Jamestowne Colony
Sixteen years after the mysterious disappearance of the colonists from
Roanoke Island, King James 1 of England gave a charter to the Virginia Company.
The goal was to try to begin another colony in North America, prevent Spain
from claiming land in the New World, continue looking for gold, and find a short
cut to Asia. The king told them that if they did not bring back gold their charter
would be cancelled.
The Virginia Company was a group of wealthy investors. Their plan was to
find gold and make themselves and their investors rich. The investors were
looking for men who also wanted to find wealth from gold, minerals, and fur.
They took with them men who were escaping death, and looking for an
adventure. The Virginia Company sent 105 men and boys to the Chesapeake Bay
area in Virginia. They would name their settlement Jamestowne in honor of the
King.
Captain Christopher Newport was in charge of the three ships going to
Jamestown; Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. They sailed south to the
Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. There were many storms and days
without any breeze to move the ships. After the winds picked up they continued
west across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Islands. Finally, they headed north
to Virginia. The trip took several months and the gentlemen on board wanted to
turn around many times and sail back to England. The trip took five months to sail
across the ocean.
On May 14, 1607, the settlers began a settlement on the James River in
Virginia. This swampy mosquito infested area along the James River will be the
first permanent English settlement. There were several reasons for selecting this
location. First, there weren’t any Native Americans living on this piece of land.
Second, it was far enough inland to stay out of sight from Spanish ships. Third,
the water was deep enough to anchor the ships close to land. Finally, they believed
there would be an abundant supply of fresh water. When they arrived in
Jamestown
1.
What is the purpose for starting another colony in North America after the
failure of the Roanoke Colony?
2.
In what month and year did the Virginia Company leave for North America?
3.
Why did the men join the expedition to North America?
4.
How would the men feel after living on a ship for five months, and faced with
many storms or days without moving at all due to no wind?
5.
What do you think was the main reason for selecting that piece of land to set
up the Jamestowne colony?.
6.
Would you have joined the expedition to North America?
7.
What evidence from the reading would you use to support your decision?
Edward Maria Wingfield was selected as the first governor the colony. He
allowed most of the men to go off searching for gold instead of setting up the
settlement. Half of the men were craftsmen’s, labor workers, soldiers. The other
half were “gentlemen” who came from wealth and did not have the knowledge or
skill to work in the New World.
The local Native Americans from the Powhatan nation came and watched the
Englishmen from a distance. Shortly after the English arrival the Natives were
angered because they were hunting in their hunting grounds, and they thought the
English would take over their homes and forests. The Natives attacked the
Englishmen many times and several men and boys died.
The colonists finally built a palisade to protect them from further attacks. The
cannons from the ships were mounted inside the palisade. No one was allowed
outside the fort without some kind of weapon. The men and boys had to work
everyday building huts, a church, and storehouse to keep the food in. The first
English church was built in Jamestown. Workers chopped down trees, cleared the
land, plant vegetables.
There were many difficulties at James Town. First, they built Jamestown on
low and swampy land. The water was salty to drink. Second, the gentlemen were
not educated in how to plant food in the Virginia soil. There were not enough
people in the Jamestown settlement willing to work hard. Third, the colonist had a
hard time getting along with the Native Americans, which resulted in many battles.
The colony soon ran out of food.
Mistress Forest and her maid Anne Burras, arrived at Jamestown on the
second supply ship from England in 1608. They were the first women brought to
Jamestowne. Later on, Anne Burras marries John Laydon. They will have the first
English baby born in North America. The baby will be named Virginia.
In January of 1608, a supply ship arrived with more colonist and supplies from
England. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed many cabins and the storehouse of
food. During that winter many men became extremely ill. Most of the men were
too ill to work, hunt, or fish. The food supply ran out. Only 60 out of 214 settlers
survived. With the help from Captain Smith, the Powhatans brought food to trade
with Englishmen.
1.
What is the effect of the men being allowed to hunt for gold instead of setting
up a settlement that would protect them?
.
2. What is the reason for the colonist building a palisade and placing cannons
inside?
Fill in the cause or effect chart for each statement. The cause happens first
and the effect is the result of the cause.
Cause
Effect
The settlement is built in low
3.
4.
There was not enough food to
Colonist did not like the Native
5.
and swampy land.
Americans
feed the settlers.
Explain three reasons the colony had problems in January of 1608. Provide
evidence from the story.
6.
7.
8.
August 1609, Captain Smith left Jamestown and sailed back to England after
realizing that he could no longer help the settlers. He was seriously injured while on
a scouting expedition and needed better medical help. Friendly relationships
between the Indians and colony came to an end.
The “Staving Time”, occurred during the winter of 1609-1610.There were
many problems that lead to this destructive time period. There was a drought
which prevented them from storing enough food. About 500 more settlers arrive
in Jamestowne on a supply ship from England earlier that year. A supply ship that
the colony was expecting never arrived, so the food supply was getting smaller.
After Smith left most of the men stopped working. The Indians had stopped
trading with the colony due to poor relationships with the colony. One colonist was
accused of cannibalism. Only 60 of the 500 colonists survived that winter. That
spring the remaining colonist boarded the Discovery and tried to leave, but were
forced to turn around when they came upon a ship arriving from England.
In 1619, ninety women came to the colonies for the first time. That same
year a Dutch ship brought the first African captives to Jamestown in 1619. Twenty
of the African captives were purchased by the gentry to work on their farms.
After Wahunsonacock dies in 1618, the new chief Openchancanough,
attacked the Jamestown colony many times. The Virginia Company started to lose
money due to the continuing attacks, so King James cancelled the company’s
charter.
The Englishmen were not happy that the Virginia Company were making
decisions for them. They decided to create their own government. They call their
new government the House of Burgesses. The representatives were men who
owned land. On July 30, 1619, the colonist held their first meeting.
In 1624 Virginia became a royal colony when the King appointed a royal
governor, and took control away from the House of Burgesses. Jamestown
became the first capital of Virginia. Since Jamestown was unhealthy, due to the
swampy location, bad water, and the capital had burnt down from a fire the
capital was moved to Williamsburg. Jamestown soon became abandoned.
1.
What is the main reason for Captain Smith leaving Jamestowne and
returning to England?
2.
List four main reasons for the “Starving Time”.
A.
B.
C.
D.
.
3. What happened in 1619?
4.
What was the main reason for the colonist setting up the House of
Burgesses?
5. What was the main reason for King James stop supporting the Virginia
Company?
6. What would be the main reason for the capital moving to Williamsburg?
1.
What is the purpose for starting another colony in North America after the
failure of the Roanoke Colony?
goal was to try to begin another colony in
North America, prevent Spain from claiming land in the New World, continue
looking for gold, and find a short cut to Asia.
2.
In what month and year did the Virginia Company leave for North America?
January 1607
3.
Why did the men join the expedition to North America?
They were excited to
find wealth from gold, minerals, and fur. They took with them men who were
escaping death, and looking for an adventure.
4.
How would the men feel after living on a ship for five months, and faced with
many storms or days without moving at all due to no wind? Sea sick, frustrated
for not moving, tired of being in close quarters with no priviacy, bored because
they couldn’t move around and get any exercise.
5.
What do you think was the main reason for selecting that piece of land to set
up the Jamestowne colony? there weren’t any Native Americans living on this
piece of land.
6.
Would you have joined the expedition to North America?
7.
What evidence from the reading would you use to support your decision?
1.
What is the effect of the men being allowed to hunt for gold instead of setting up a
settlement that would protect them?
different encounters
The Natives attacked the Englishmen on several
and many men died.
2. What is the reason for the colonist building a palisade and placing cannons
inside? To protect themselves from the Powhatan attacks
Fill in the cause or effect chart for each statement. The cause happens first
and the effect is the result of the cause.
Cause
Effect
The settlement is built in low
3. The water was salty to
4. The men did not have the
There was not enough food to
knowledge in how to plant
feed the settlers.
Colonist did not like the Native
5. There were many battles
and swampy land.
crops.
Americans
drink.
between the two groups.
Explain three reasons the colony had problems in January of 1608. Provide
evidence from the story.
6. More colonies arrived,
7. a fire destroyed the new supply of food and cabins,
8. men became to ill to work, hunt, or fish.
1.
What is the main reason for Captain Smith leaving Jamestowne and
returning to England?
2.
Realizing that he could no longer help the settlers
List four main reasons for the “Starving Time”.
A.
There was a drought which prevented them from storing enough
food.
B.
About 500 more settlers arrived in Jamestown on a supply ship from
England earlier that year.
C.
A supply ship that the colony was expecting never arrived, so the
food supply was getting smaller.
D.
. the Indians had stopped trading with the colony
3. What happened in 1619?
90 women and the first American captives
arrived
4.
What was the main reason for the colonist setting up the House of
Burgesses? They did not want the Virginia Company making decisions for
them. They wanted their own government.
5. What was the main reason for King James stop supporting the Virginia
Company?
The Virginia Company was not making him money
6. What would be the main reason for the capital moving to Williamsburg?
Due to the swampy location, and bad water