2.2: Jamestown
I.
English Settlement in America
A.
Unlike Spanish colonies, which were funded by rulers, English colonies were
originally funded by joint-stock companies.
1. Several investors could pool money to support a colony.
2. Received a charter for the colony from the king/queen, meaning the
company was responsible for maintaining it.
3. In return, investors got to keep most of the profit yielded by the colony.
2.2: Jamestown
II.
The Lost Colony
A.
B.
England’s first attempt to start a colony is at Roanoke, 1585. Fails.
Financed by Sir Walter Raleigh, a second attempt was launched in 1587.
1. After establishing settlement at Roanoke, the captain of the expedition
sailed back to England for supplies.
2. Captain returns in 1590. Settlement abandoned. No colonists.
a) Only clue is word “CROATOAN” carved into tree.
b) Theories?
2.2: Jamestown
III.
Founding Jamestown
A.
B.
In 1606, King James I of England granted a charter to
the Virginia Company of London.
1. Goal was to found colony on eastern shore of
North America in territory called Virginia.
April 1607- 150 colonists reach shores of Virginia.
Claim the land and name the settlement
“Jamestown,” in honor of the king.
IV.
A Disastrous Start at Jamestown
A.
B.
C.
Very few of the original colonists were accustomed to a life of labor.
1. Thought they would get rich quick!
a) All people talked about was “dig gold, wash gold,...load gold.” John Smith
By winter, many colonists had died.
1. John Smith takes command of the settlement to save it.
a) Enforces this law: “He that will not work shall not eat.”
b) Persuades Powhatan Indians to help provide food.
c) Smith injured, returns to England in 1609.
The Starving Time, 1609-1610
1. 600 more colonists arrived
2. Not enough food or supplies for everyone
3. Powhatan tribe feels threatened by the growing colony = conflict
4. Severe famine. Only about 60 colonists survive.
V.
Jamestown Flourishes
A.
B.
C.
In 1612, John Rolfe, a Jamestown colonist, developed a strain of tobacco that was
marketable in England.
1. Settlers began growing large quantities of tobacco for profit.
2. “Brown Gold”
The Virginia Company attracted more settlers to the colony with the headright
system.
1. For each head in your family, you get 50 acres of land!
In 1622, Powhatan War bankrupts Virginia Company. To strengthen colony, King
James I made Virginia a royal colony--under direct control of king.