THE CABOTS
Marked by political turmoil and instability.
England was lagging behind both Spain and France.
England, earlier, was looking inward.
Late in the century, England sought to make a late entrance into the field of exploration.
1588
ENTERING 1588, THE SPANISH ARMADA WAS VIEWED AS THE LARGEST
NAVAL FLEET TO TAKE THE SEAS UP TO THAT POINT.
THERE WAS A VERY COMPLEX RIVALRY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SPAIN—
SPAIN SAW ENGLAND AS A GROWING THREAT TO THEIR OVERSEAS TRADE,
AS WELL AS POLITICALLY AND RELIGIOUSLY.
THE SPANISH ARMADA WAS SENT TO END THE ENGLISH THREAT.
THE ARMADA WAS MET BY A VERY EFFECTIVE ENGLISH FLEET WHICH,
COUPLED WITH BAD WEATHER, DEVASTATED THE SPANISH ARMADA—FOR
THE MOST PART, SPAIN WOULD NEVER FULLY RECOVER FROM THIS DEFEAT.
ENGLAND’S VICTORY GAVE THEM NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE—THEY NOW
SAW THEMSELVES AS EQUAL WITH SPAIN AND THEY CONCENTRATED ALL
THEIR EFFORTS ON EXPLORATION.
A NEW WAVE OF EXCITEMENT FILLED
ENGLAND—THEY NOW WANTED TO
REACH OUT.
PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE WAS
EVERYWHERE.
“SEA DOGS”
AN ENTIRE NEW BREED OF HEROES AND ADVENTURERS AROSE:
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
HUMPHREY GILBERT
JOHN HAWKINS
THE TUDOR PERIOD
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DURING HER REIGN IN THE 16TH CENTURY, QUEEN ELIZABETH BEGINS MAKING LAND GRANTS TO ENGLISH EXPLORERS.
•
THESE LANDS WHICH THEY DISCOVERED WERE TO BE CONTROLLED BY “LAWS AND ORDINANCES AS NEAR AS CONVENIENTLY MIGHT
BE TO THE LAWS OF THE NATION….” OTHERWISE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED SUCH LAND GRANTS COULD GOVERN THE
AREAS THEY DISCOVERED/CLAIMED AS VASSALS OF THE KING OR QUEEN (THEY HAD ABSOLUTE POWERS, AS PROPRIETORS, OVER
THEIR RESPECTIVE COLONY—THIS AUTHORITY WAS BASED ON ROYAL PREROGATIVE).
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THAT IS, THE COUNTRY OF ENGLAND DIDN’T OWN THE COLONIES—THE MONARCH DID.
THESE EXPLORERS WERE GIVEN GRANTS TO GOVERN THE AREAS THEY DISCOVERED/CLAIMED IN THE NAME OF AND UNDER THE
JURISDICTION OF HIS/HER MAJESTY.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO SUCCESSFUL COLONIES ESTABLISHED DURING ELIZABETH’S REIGN, THE FOUNDATIONS HAD BEEN
LAID BY THE END OF HER LIFE IN 1603.
THERE WERE TWO LEGAL PRECEDENTS (POWERS) WHEREBY THE CROWN COULD SET UP
COLONIES.
•
FIEF: PRACTICE/CUSTOM WHEREBY ESTATES (LANDHOLDINGS) WERE
GRANTED IN RETURN FOR MILITARY SERVICE.
• OTHER EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF ROYAL
•
UNDER HENRY VIII, ROYAL PREROGATIVE WAS USED TO CREATE A FIEF--THE
EXPLORERS JOHN CABOT AND HIS SON SEBASTIAN WERE GIVEN THE RIGHT
TO FIND, ACQUIRE, AND HOLD LANDS AS VASSALS OF THE KING.
• GEORGE CALBERT WAS ORIGINALLY IN
PREROGATIVES TO CREATE FIEFS:
NEWFOUNDLAND AND HE EVENTUALLY WENT TO
MARYLAND (1630’S).
•
IN RETURN, THE CABOTS WERE GIVEN A MONOPOLY (THEY WERE EXPECTED
TO GIVE TO THE KING A ROYAL FIFTH (20%) OF THEIR PROFITS.
•
JOHN CABOT’S VOYAGES AND EXPLORATIONS (1497-’98) OF THE NORTH
AMERICAN COAST LED TO VAGUE ENGLISH CLAIMS.
•
WHEN THEY MADE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTH AMERICAN COAST, THE
CABOTS GAVE THE ENTIRE COAST THE NAME VIRGINIA.
• JAMES (THE DUKE OF YORK) WAS GIVEN NEW
A SIMILAR GRANT WAS GIVEN TO HUMPHREY GILBERT WHEN HE
TEMPORARILY COLONIZED NEWFOUNDLAND IN 1583.
• WILLIAM PENN WAS GIVEN “PENN’S WOODS”
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LORD CLARENDON WAS GIVEN POWER TO SET UP
COLONIES IN THE CAROLINAS I 1663.
NETHERLANDS.
(PENNSYLVANIA) IN 1681.
THEIR ROYAL PREROGATIVE(S) MADE THEM PROPRIETORS—THEIR COLONIES WERE KNOWN AS PROPRIETARY COLONIES.
THERE WERE TWO LEGAL PRECEDENTS (POWERS) WHEREBY THE CROWN COULD SET UP
COLONIES.
• ROYAL PREROGATIVE WAS USED TO GRANT ROYAL
CHARTERS—GRANTED TO TRADING COMPANIES
UNDER MERCANTILIST PRINCIPLES.
• EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF ROYAL PREROGATIVE TO
CREATE A CHARTER:
• VIRGINIA COLONY (1606-1607)
• BERMUDA COLONY (1615)
• PLYMOUTH COLONY (1620)
• MASSACHUSETTS BAY (1629)
BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ESTABLISHING A FIEF AS
OPPOSED TO ESTABLISHING A CHARTER:
•
•
IN MANY CASES, IN COLONIES THATORIGINATED AS FIEFS:
•
THIS CLAUSE ORIGINATED IN THE 14TH CENTURY IN THE BORDERS BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND WHERE THE KING WAS FIGHTING WITH THE
SCOTS.
THE VASSAL HAD POWER UNDER THE BISHOP OF DURHAM CLAUSE (E.G.
MARYLAND AND NEW YORK)
•
THE COUNTY SHIRE BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND WAS DURHAM
COUNTY.
•
UNDER THE BISHOP OF DURHAM CLAUSE THE HEAD OF DURHAM COUNTY
WAS OFFERED COMPLETE CONTROL OVER HIS COUNTY IN EXCHANGE FOR
HOLDING OFF THE SCOTTS FROM INVADING ENGLAND.
•
THE VASSAL OF THE NEW COLONY WAS IN COMPLETE CONTROL, MUCH LIKE
THE “BISHOP OF DURHAM” WAS.
• IN CASES WHERE COLONIES ORIGINATED
THROUGH THE GRANTING OF ROYAL CHARTERS:
• SELF-GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO APPEAR EARLY ON
(E.G. VA)
“THE LOST COLONY”
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THE FIRST ENGLISH ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A SETTLEMENT WAS MADE BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH IN 1587 ON ROANOKE ISLAND.
THE ROANOKE SETTLEMENT, HOWEVER, MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED.
SEVERAL THEORIES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN HOW/WHY THE ROANOKE SETTLEMENT DIDN’T LAST:
•
•
INDIAN MASSACRE
•
THE FAILED EXPERIMENT ON ROANOKE ISLAND DID DEMONSTRATE THE NEED THAT TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT, MORE MONEY
AND ORGANIZATION WAS NEEDED.
•
LENGTHY/DELAYED SUPPLY TRAINS (POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE SPANISH ARMADA WHICH WASN’T DEFEATED YET)
COMPELLED THE SETTLERS TO ABANDON THE SETTLEMENT, MIGRATE INLAND, WHERE THEY POSSIBLY ASSIMILATED/INTEGRATED THEMSELVES
WITHIN LOCAL AMERINDIAN TRIBES (THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED THEORY OR EXPLANATION).
ENGLAND HAD A RISING MERCHANT CLASS AND THEY VIEWED PRIVATE INVESTMENT AS THE KEY, NOW RELYING ON JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.
NEW WORLD LAND
GRANTS (1600S)
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 GAVE THE COMPANY THE RIGHT TO COLONIZE
THE LAND BETWEEN THE POTOMAC RIVER AND NORTH CAROLINA. THE LAND WAS CALLED VIRGINIA. 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 STUART KING, JAMES I, ISSUED A CHARTER/LETTERS OF PATENT TO LONDON MERCHANTS THEREBY IAUTHORIZING/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, ALTHOUGH 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.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES
• DURING THE 17TH 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.
• DUE TO POLITICAL ACCIDENT AND SALUTARY NEGLECT, THE COLONIES DO NOT GET PROPER ATTENTION FROM
THE KING AND THEY BEGIN TO DEVELOP POLITICALLY/ECON.OMICALLY ON THEIR OWN.
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AS LONG AS WEALTH AND GOODS WERE SHIPPED TO ENGLAND FROM THE COLONIES, THIS ARRANGEMENT CONTD.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES ORIGINATED FROM TRADING COMPANIES THAT EXISTED AND OPERATED PRIOR TO 1600.
THESE ANCESTORS OF THE JOINT STOCK COMPANY INCLUDED THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY, THE LEVANT
COMPANY, AND THE MUSCOVY COMPANY.
THEE 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.
JOINT STOCK COMPANY
crown
Board of Trade and
Plantations
Privy Council
Royal prerogatives
THE VIRGINIA COMPANY
WAS FORMED AS A JOINT
STOCK COMPANY
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 FINANCE 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, OR MONEY, FOR INVESTMENT, IT OUTFITTED SHIPS FOR A TRADING VOYAGE—IF THE
SHIPS RETURNED SAFELY, THE CARGOES WERE SOLD AND EACH INVESTOR RECEIVED HIS SHIARE OF THE
PROFITS. SUCH PROFITS WERE OFTEN GUARANTEED SINCE THE MONARCH GRANTED THE COMPANY THE
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO TRADE AS A MONOPOLY.
JOINT STOCK COMPANY
CONTD.
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.
JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT
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….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.
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE JAMESTOWN
SETTLERS:
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.
• 1609: THE VA COMPANY MADE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO SAVE THE COLONY—DESPITE THE HARDSHIPS, TH.E
JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT GRADUALLY GREW/DEVELOPED INTO A COLONY AND WAS GIVEN THE NAME VIRGINIA.
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NEW CHARTER NARROWED THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BOUNDARIES WHILE SEPARATING THE VA COMPANY FROM THE
PLYMOUTH COMPANY
3 RELIEF SHIPS SENT
NEW GOVERNOR
GREATER GOVERNING AUTHORITY GRANTED
THE VA COMPANY WAS INCORPORATED
THE ROYAL COUNCIL IN ENGLAND WAS DISBANDED
A TREASURER WAS ELECTED
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.
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
• 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.
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
UPON TAKING MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS, SMITH VISITED NEARBY INDIAN
VILLAGES TO TRADE FOR FOOD.
POWHATAN, 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.
“THE STARVING TIME”
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 GOVERNNOR 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.
TOBACCO
• 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 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.
RESULTS OF THE TOBACCO ESTABLISHMENT:
• PROSPERITY
• BROAD-ACRED PLANTATION SYSTEM
• SLAVE LABOR (NEITHER INDENTURED SERVITUDE NOR INDIAN LABOR WAS SUFFICIENT IN MEETING THE LABOR
SHORTAGE)
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•
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)
• 1612: CHARTER RE-ISSUED
• VA COLONY STILL FACED DIFFICULT TIMES:
• INADEQUATE FINANCES
• POOR MANAGEMENT
• HIGH MORTALITY
• VAGRANCY/INDOLENCE
• HOSTILE INDIANS (E.G. 1622 MASSACRE: 347 OF 1,200 SETTLERS KILLED)
• RAMPANT INDIVIDUALISM
THE GREAT CHARTER
(1618)
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 VA COMPANY REALIZED THEY NEEDED MORE CONTROL IN THE COLONY.
KING GRANTED COLONY 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
Governor
GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURE IN VA
Council
House of
Burgesses
VIRGINIA BECOMES A ROYAL COLONY
• NOVEMBER, 1623: SUIT OF QUO WARRANTO BROUGH AGAINST THE VA COMPANY IN THE COURT OF THE
KING’S BENCH
COMPANY HAD TO SHOW JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTINUATION OF ITS CHARTER
1624: 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.