By Jeff Zoë Rachel

ByJeff Zoë

Rachel

Sir Walter Raleigh

• Sir Walter was an English explorer and adventurer

• Late 1500’s he had the idea to colonize Virginia

• In 1584 the first attempt failed and the colony disappeared

• They tried again and Virginia became a colony in 1607

Sir Walter named Virginia after Queen Elizabeth I of England. She was called the Virgin Queen because she was not married.

Time Line

1550 1600

Idea for foundation

First expedition

disappeared

Virginia was made a colony

Late 1500’s

1584 1607

• The colony was seen as an investment• They would make money by trading

materials• Colonists were sent to set up farms and

sell their produce• They traded through the Virginia Company

of London**This was the company that invested in coming to

the Americas

• Most settlers were English

• They received 50 acres

• +100 acres if they invested in the Virginia Company

• Many also brought indentured servants and slaves

• Skilled laborers (shoemakers, tailors etc)

• Unskilled laborers (to escape unemployment)

• These people provided cheap labor for plantation owners

Colonial People Occupations

• Mild winters• Hot, humid summers• Rain = fertile soil for

farming

• Low lands for plantations

• Quiet bays for ports for shipping and trading

• Wooded mountains that were hard to clear

• Tobacco!!!• Tobacco plantations• Slave trade introduced in 1619• The slaves were cheap labor

• Church of England was the official religion of Virginia

• The religious rules sometimes affected the colonies rules

Governor(1)

Governor’s council(6)

House of Burgesses(22)

Credits

Jeff ZoëRachel