JAMESTOWN The First Colonial Settlement

Joint-Stock Company

Companies in which investors pooled wealth with the hope of gaining a profit Once they obtained charter – had to maintain

colony, in return they would be entitled to receive back most of the profit colony earned

1606 – King James I granted charter to Virginia Company

Would receive 4/5 of gold and silver found Who do you think got the other 1/5?

1607

Reached Chesapeake Bay and moved inwards.

Settled by the now-called James River and founded the colony of Jamestown

Began planting, but many did not like manual labor They wanted to find gold

Powhatan

Native Americans living in the area at the time

Known as Powhatan Confederacy Wanted to create fruitful relations with

English at first Realized too late English didn’t want to

be “friends” with Native americans

John Smith

Strong leader Inflicted strict discipline “those who did not work shall not eat” Worked with the Natives Only 38 of the 105 colonists that came

over at first survived the first 9 months. Had to sail back to England in 1609 -

injured

Starving Time

Winter of 1609-1610 Many died

Tobacco

Reason for being John Rolfe – responsible for the rapid

production of tobacco He married Pocahontas, not John Smith Helped ease tensions with English and

Native Americans http://www.history.com/topics/native-

american-history/pocahontas

Indentured Servants

Brought over to North America Received food and shelter Servitude for 4-7 years

1618 – Headright Policy

Anyone who bought a share in the VA Company or could transport himself to VA received 50 acres of land and 50 more for any servants he might send or bring

Representative Assembly

“Rights of Englishmen” 7/30/1619 – first General Assembly met

1619

90 “young maidens” brought over to be sold to their husband of choice

Group of 20 African Americans brought over Do you think they were slaves at first?

Migration

Since 1607 14,000 people had migrated to colony In 1624 – only 1,132 people lived there King appointed commission to investigate How do you think VA’s status changed as a

result?

Native American Conflicts

Natives staged attack in 1644. English put down attack and it didn’t

happen again 24,000 Algonquians who inhabited this

area in 1607 reduced to 2,000 by 1669

Sir William Berkeley

Jamestown’s governor High taxes – paid by poor settlers Money not used for public good – where

do you think it went to? What do you think the settlers wanted

their tax money to go to?

Nathaniel Bacon

1675 – fighting between Natives and colonists. Berkeley would not give colonists military support

Didn’t sit well with Bacon Raised his own army Marched to Jamestown in 1676 to confront

colonial leaders Also upset with lack of representation in the

House of Burgesses – VA’s colonial legislature

Bacon Continued

Berkeley fled Bacon died a month later Charles I became critical of Berkeley’s

policies Berkeley recalled to England but he died too Exposed the growing power of former

indentured servants

Maryland!

1634 founded – ten years after VA Proprietary colony – what do you think

this means?

Lord Baltimore

Sir George Calvert – sought religious refuge for English Catholics (Why would this be necessary?)

Cecilius Calvert – 2nd Lord Baltimore Founded colony in 1634

1635

1st Legislative Assembly met Meant to rely upon mixed farming, but

like VA soon came to depend on tobacco 60 manorial estates existed in Maryland

by 1676