The   first   land   grant   (CHARTER)   in   the   new   world   was   bestowed   by   king   James   I   to   the   Virginia   company   of   London   in   1606.
CHARTER:   LEGAL   DOCUMENT   THAT   GAVE   CERTAIN   RIGHTS   TO   A   PERSON   OR   COMPANY.
THE   CHARTER   ALSO   GAVE   COLONISTS   THE   SAME   RIGHTS   AS   PEOPLE   IN   ENGLAND.
The   VA   Company   was   formed   when   London,   Bristol,   and   Plymouth   merchants   pooled   their   resources   (contributed   funds)   to   finance   a   venture   to   the   Chesapeake,   Carolina,   and   Outer   Banks   area.
Two   groups   formed:
London   merchants
Bristol/Plymouth   merchants
THE   CHARTER   GAVE   THE   VIRGINIA   COMPANY   OF   LONDON   THE   RIGHT   TO   COLONIZE   THE   LAND   BETWEEN   THE
POTOMAC   RIVER   AND   NORTH   CAROLINA.
THE   LAND   WAS   CALLED   VIRGINIA.
The   Stuart   king,   James   I,   issued   a   charter/letters   of   patent   to   London   merchants   thereby   authorizing/licensing   them   to   settle   the   area   between   34°N   and   41°N.
100   miles   inland   as   well   as   all   islands   within   100   miles   from   shore.
Under   a   separate   grant/charter,   Bristol/Plymouth   merchants   could   settle   the   area   between   38°N ‐ 45°n.
100   miles   inland   as   well   as   all   the   islands   within   100   miles   from   shore.
The   overlapping   belt   existed   between   38°n ‐ 41°n   and   it   included   PA,   DE,   MD,   and   NJ.
The   overlapping   land   was   neutral   and   neither   group   could   settle   within   100   miles   of   the   other.
A   52   man   Royal   Council   was   set   up   in   London   to   supervise   the   Virginia   Company   associates   while   a   seven   member
Resident   Council   was   set   up   to   conduct   local   affairs.
Under   the   London   Company   charter,   king   James   I   guaranteed   all   colonists   would   take   with   them   the   rights   of
Englishmen.
The   first   English   colony   in   the   new   world   was   Jamestown,   Virginia,   settled   in   1607,   situated   along   the   banks   of   the
James   River   near   the   Chesapeake   Bay   and   Atlantic   Ocean,   and   financed   by   the   VA   COMPANY.
INVESTORS   IN   THE   COMPANY   HOPED   THAT   COLONISTS   WOULD   FIND   GOLD   MINES   LIKE   THOSE   IN   NEW   SPAIN.
1609:   the   London   Company   was   granted   land   200   miles   north   and   south   of   Point   Comfort   from   sea   to   sea   west   and   northwest—the   new   charter   was   granted   to   Captain   John   Smith.

• During   the   17 th century   the   crown   was   extremely   weak   and   cash   strapped.
Wars   against   their   main   rival   the   French   were   expensive.
England   was   engulfed   in   a   civil   war   between   Parliament   and   the   crown   over   power,   religion,   and   money.
Joint   stock   companies   originated   from   trading   companies   that   existed   and   operated   prior   to   1600
(e.g.
British   East   India   Company,   the   Levant   Company,   and   the   Muscovy   Company).
These   trade   companies   developed   into   joint   stock   companies   (early   forms   of   corporations)   which   took   the   place   of   the   crown,   though   the   crown   still   had   a   function   insofar   as   the   king/queen   governed   the   new   lands   in   their   name.
• Due   to   political   accident   and   salutary   neglect,   the   colonies   did   not   get   proper   attention   from   the   king   and   they   begin   to   develop   politically/economically   on   their   own.
• As   long   as   wealth   and   goods   were   shipped   to   England   from   the   colonies,   this   arrangement   contd.

People   invested   together   and   benefitted   or   took   the   loss   together   (limited   liability).
The   crown   played   a   role   because   they   granted   land   through   charters   to   these   companies   to   encourage/   authorize   expeditions   even   without   financing   them.
In   fact,   despite   being   interested   in   expanding   influence   abroad,   the   crown   never   financed   or   funded   a   colony—rather,   British   colonies   were   privately   funded   and   developed.
The   main   reason:   the   crown   was   poor—private   enterprise   took   the   place   of   the   crown   in   terms   of   financially   supporting   the   colonies.
Royal   charters   guaranteed   exclusive   right   to   trade   and   to   colonize   a   certain   area.

Since   the   crown   was   so   poor,   private   enterprise   took   the   place   of   the   crown   and   the   government   in   general   in   regard   to   financially   supporting   the   colonies.
• Originally,   joint   stock   companies   were   used   to   financing   trading   voyages.
• Private   companies   were   financed   by   a   group   of   merchants   who   pooled   their   funds   to   form   a   company.
• Each   merchant   got   shares   of   stock   for   the   money   they   put   in.
• If/when   the   company   raised   enough   capital   (money)   for   investment,   it   outfitted   ships   for   a   trading   venture/voyage—if   the   ships   returned   safely,   the   cargoes   were   sold   and   each   investor   received   his   share/percentage   of   the   profits.
• Such   profits   were   often   guaranteed   since   the   monarch   or   Parliament   guaranteed   such   companies   the   exclusive   right   to   trade   as   a   monopoly.

These   new   forms   of   business   organization   facilitated   the   underwriting   of   large   scale   trading   ventures   and   other   large   enterprises.
Capital   could   be   generated   through   the   sale   of   shares
Each   investor   shared   alike   in   profits/risks
The   company   was   managed   by   directors   chosen   from   among   the   shareholders.
It   was   a   business   venture   (financial   profit)
Indirect   government   control   (charter)   although   the   crown   exerted   more   control   over   time.

February,   1607:   approximately   144   gentlemen,   artisans,   and   servants   aboard   the   Susan   Constant ,
Discovery,   and   Godspeed    embarked   with   instructions   to   build/fortify   a   town   on   an   island   up   a   navigable   river   for   the   purpose   of   profit,   land   cultivation,   and   exploration   (i.e.
it   was   considered   an   economic   venture).
The   London   Company   did   not   send   men   to   VA   for   the    purpose   of   establishing   a   self ‐ governing   colony—laws   for   the   settlement   at   Jamestown   were   made   at   a   meeting   held   in   London   attended   by   stockholders   in   the   London   Company.
Jamestown   officials   were   chosen   at   that   same   meeting.
May   13,   1607:   the   expedition   reached   a   narrow   1,500   acre   pear ‐ shaped   peninsula   60   miles   up   the   James
River   whereupon   105   people   touched   landfall.
Jamestown   was   named   after   king   James   I.

Hostile   natives
Swamps   (breeding   ground   for   mosquitoes   and   bacteria,   contributing   to   typhoid   and   dysentery)
The   settlement   wasn’t   far   enough   up   river—meant   brackish   water   at   high   tide   causing   saltwater   poisoning
Malnutrition   caused: pellagra   (caused   by   deficiency   of   niacin   and   protein) symptoms   included   anorexia   and   apathy
New   settlers   brought   typhus   and   the   plague
Indolence
Rampant   individualism
• Governing   the   colony   was   also   a   problem:
• The   London   merchants   were   supposed   to   make   laws   for   the   colony.
• Because   the   merchants   were   far   away,   they   chose   a   council   of   13   men   to   rule   the   colony.
• Members   of   the   council   quarreled   with   each   other—resulting   in   little   being   done   to   make   the   colony   strong.
• Colonists   spent   their   days   hunting   for   gold   instead   of   planting   crops.
• The   Jamestown   colony   almost   failed   in   its   first   year.

In   1622,   the   directors   of   the   Virginia   Company   printed   and   posted   the   handbill   presented   below.
From   its   list   of   articles   one   can   make   reasonable   inferences   about   the   lives   of   Virginia’s   earliest   settlers.

• 1609:   The   VA   Company   made   a   determined   effort   to   save   the   colony—despite   the   hardships,   the   Jamestown   settlement   gradually   grew/developed   into   a   colony   adopted   the   name   Virginia.
• New   charter   narrowed   the   northern   and   southern   boundaries   while   separating   the   Virginia   company   from   the   Plymouth   company
• 3   relief   ships   sent
• New   governor
• Greater   governing   authority   was   granted
• The   VA   Company   was   incorporated
• A   treasurer   was   elected
• The   Royal   Council   in   England   was   disbanded
• Henceforth,   policies   were   determined   by   stockholder   meetings
• The   idea   that   the   colony   was   an   outpost   was   disbanded;   rather,   the   colony,   through   agricultural   production,   would   become   self ‐ sufficient.
• A   communal   arrangement   would   last   until   1616,   at   which   point   ancient   settlers   would   receive   100   acres   and   newcomers   would   get   50   acres.
• Under   the   headright system,   50   acres   per   head   was   paid   for   (indentured   servants   would   recieve 50   acres   after   7   years   of   indentured   servitude.

• UPON   SAILING   TO   AMERICA,   HE   GREW   DISGUSTED   WITH   THE
JAMESTOWN   COLONISTS.
• AMONG   HIS   COMPLAINTS:   “NO   TALK,   NO   HOPE,   NO   WORK….[PEOPLE
ONLY   WANTED   TO]   DIG   GOLD,   WASH   GOLD,   REFINE   GOLD,   LOAD
GOLD….”   BUT   NO   ONE   FOUND   GOLD   AND   THE   COLONY   WAS   RUNNING
OUT   OF   FOOD.
• IN   GENERALL   HISTORIE   OF   VIRGINIA PUBLISHED   IN   ENGLAND   IN   1624,
JOHN   SMITH   WROTE   THAT,   BEFORE   HE   TOOK   OVER   AS   THEIR   LEADER,
COLONISTS   AT   JAMESTOWN   ARGUED   TOO   MUCH   AND   DIDN’T   WORK
HARD.
SMITH   SAID   THAT   HE   SAVED   THE   COLONY   BY   TAKING   OVER   IN
1608   AND   PROVIDING   STRONG   LEADERSHIP.
SMITH   ALSO   ALLEGED
THAT   HE   STOPPED   A   LOT   OF   THE   ARGUING.

UPON   TAKING   MATTERS   INTO   HIS   OWN   HANDS,   SMITH   VISITED
NEARBY   INDIAN   VILLAGES   TO   TRADE   FOR   FOOD.
POWHATAN    (right),   A   POWERFUL   CHIEF   WHO   WAS   ANGRY   WITH   THE
ENGLISH,   TOOK   SMITH   PRISONER   AND   ORDERED   HIM   PUT   TO   DEATH.
ACCORDING   TO   SMITH,   POWHATAN’S   10   YEAR   OLD   DAUGHTER,
POCAHONTAS,   BEGGED   HER   FATHER   TO   SPARE   HIM—TO   THIS,
POWHATAN   AGREED   AND   EVEN   SOLD   CORN   TO   SMITH   TO   FEED   THE
HUNGRY   COLONISTS   AT   JAMESTOWN.
BECAUSE   OF   HIS   SUCCESS   WITH   THE   INDIANS,   THE   COUNCIL   PUT
SMITH   IN   CHARGE   OF   THE   COLONY.
Captain   john   smith   issued   a   “no   work—no   food”   order;   indolence   would   not   be   tolerated.
LIFE   IN   THE   COLONY   IMPROVED   WHEN   COLONISTS   BEGAN   PLANTING
CROPS.
1609:   SMITH   WAS   INJURED   IN   AN   ACCIDENT—AFTER   HE   RETURNED
TO   ENGLAND,THE   COLONY   AGAIN   FELL   ON   HARD   TIMES.

VA   Company   sent   more   settlers   to
Jamestown   between   1606 ‐ 1609.
Of   the   900   settlers   who   arrived,   only   150   survived   (disease   or   starvation)
Those   who   survived   faced   “the   starving   time”   during   the   winter   of   1609 ‐ 1610.
They   were   forced   to   live   on   “dogs,   cats,   snakes,   toadstools,   horsehides,   and   what   not”   after   they   ran   out   of   food.
Upon   learning   of   the   tragedy,   the   VA
Company   put   a   military   governor   in   charge   of   the   colony.
• The   governor   had   power   to   make   any   laws   he   felt   were   needed.
• Colonists   were   subjected   to   very   strict   military   rule:
• One   settler   was   executed   for   killing   a   chicken   without   permission
• Another   settler   was   chained   to   a   tree   until   he   starved   to   death   for   stealing   a   few   cups   of   oatmeal.
• Colonists   complained   that   discipline   was   too   strict.

• Despite   placing   the   colony   under   military   rule,   Jamestown   remained   in   trouble—investors   in   the   VA   Company   feared   that   they   would   never   make   a   profit.
• 1607:   John   Rolfe   (above   right)   introduced   a   new   strain   of   tobacco   grown   from   seed   imported   from   Trinidad.
• Alluvial   indian lands   were   expropriated   for   growing   the   crop   as   an   export   commodity.
• The   VA   colony   enjoyed   a   longer   growing   season,   fertile   soil,   and   a   temperate   climate.

(Below   right):   The   Baptism   of   Pocahontas by   John   Gadsby Chapman
Oil   on   canvas,   12'   x   18'
Commissioned   1837;   placed   1840
Rotunda   of   the   United   States   Capitol

• Prosperity
• Broad ‐ acred plantation   system
• Slave   labor   (neither   indentured   servitude   nor   indian labor   was   sufficient   in   meeting   the   labor   shortage)
• Indians   couldn’t/wouldn’t   do   the   work   (ran   away;   unfamiliar   with   European   agricultural   methods;   devastated   by   Columbian   exchange   and   European   diseases)
• 1619:   first   slaves   arrived
• Problems   with   Indians   (based   on   how   Indians   viewed   tobacco   use   as   well   as   the   fact   that   tobacco   is   land   intensive   as   well   as   labor   intensive)

‐
• Inadequate   finances
• Poor   management
• High   mortality
• Vagrancy/indolence
• Hostile   Indians   (e.g.
1622   massacre:   347   of   1,200   settlers   killed)
• Rampant   individualism

Under   its   original   charter   in   1606,   authority   for   control   over   the   va colony/Jamestown   settlement   was   with   the   va compa.ny in   London.
By   1619,   the   king   and   Virginia   Company   realized   they   needed   more   control   in   the   colony.
The   king   granted   the   colonya charter   of   liberties   which   permitted   the   establishment   of   representative   government   in   VA.
through   a   bicameral   legislature.
Established   two   legislative   houses—the   first   house   was   comprised   of   the   governor   and   councilors   appointed   by   the   company   while   the   second   (lower)   house   (house   of   burgesses)   was   an   elected   assembly.
2   burgesses   elected   by   the   free   inhabitants   from   each   of   the   colony’s   11   constituencies/units   (parishes)
VA   House   of   Burgesses   first   democratically   elected   body   in   new   world.
sessions   presided   over   by   the   governor/governor’s   council
Sessions   of   the   VA   assembly:
November,   1621
February ‐ march,   1624 may,   1625 march,   1628 annually   thereafter
Most   enactments   were   in   the   form   of   local   ordinances sumptuary   laws   outlawed   (e.g.
gambling   and   cursing) mandatory   church   attendance   (Anglican   orthodoxy) church   could   tax

• November,   1623:   suit   of   quo   warranto brought   against   the   VA   Company   in   the   Court   of   the   King’s   Bench
The   company   had   to   show   justification   for   continuation   of   its   charter.
1624:   The   court   declared   against   the   colony   due   to   several   years   of   serious   financial   losses,   at   which   point   it   went   into   receivership   and   became   a   royal
(crown)   colony—henceforth,   the   crown   controlled   it   politically,   economically,   and   socially   with   royal   governors   representing   the   crown.
When   the   crown   took   over   the   VA   colony/Jamestown   settlement,   the   VA
Company   lost   its   jurisdictional   rights.