Life in a New World
The Founding of Jamestown, Virginia
Unit 1, Journal #1
• Imagine that you are one of the select few who
have been chosen to begin colonization in the
new world.
• What supplies will you need?
• What problems will you encounter?
• Who will you bring with you? Why?
• (this should be PROFESSIONS, not friends/family)
SUPPLIES
PROBLEMS?
WHO? WHY?
The Mystery of Roanoke
• England makes a first attempt at colonizing in North America
• On March 25, 1584, Queen Elizabeth I granted Sir Walter
Raleigh a charter for the colonization of the area of North
America known as North Carolina today.
• Failed attempt at Roanoke in 1585, tries again in 1587.
WHY COME TO AMERICA?
WHY ROANOKE?
The Mystery of Roanoke
• 150 colonists
• Captain John White must sail back to England for supplies and
ask for help, leaving the settlers behind.
• Upon his return in 1590, White finds the settlement empty
with only one clue.
•
•
•
•
“CROATOAN” – a Native American tribe
No sign of struggle
Departure not hurried, houses dismantled
White had instructed them that if anything happened to them,
they should carve a cross on a tree nearby, indicating that their
disappearance had been forced.
• No cross
• Croatoan Island? No search…storm forced men to go home.
THEORIES???
Theories, continued…
• Integration with local tribes
• Chespians – Powhatan’s destruction
• Lost at sea
• Starvation
• Cannibalism
• The Spanish
HOMEWORK:
www.historyglobe.com/jamestown
1. Complete activity
2. Read explanation in “Now we know…”
3. Answer the following questions (types or
handwritten) in complete sentences:
• What were the problems that settlers faced?
• How could they be solved?
• What was the most important thing to focus on as a
settler?
• Was Jamestown successful? Why or why not?
The Founding of Jamestown
• GROUP ACTIVITY:
• “Life at Jamestown” packet
• Will be responsible for reading and reporting/teaching to the class
AND have a drawing that shows an important piece of your “lesson.”
• Must have duties- reporter, journalist, artist, etc.
• GROUPS:
(1) Why establish?
(2) Who sailed?
(3) Inhabitants
(4) Difficulties
(5) First year challenges
(6) Survival and Economics
PRESENTATIONS
Please take notes during each group’s
presentation.
Unit 1, Journal #2
• Do rules and regulations make things
easier or more difficult? Why?
Jamestown Needs Order
• From the time they landed at Jamestown in 1607, lack of
strong leadership was a continuing problem. Internal
squabbles, deceit and death reduced their population to a
mere few and finally only one by the winter of 1608-1609.
• One of the lessons the Virginia Company learned during the
few years of colonization in Virginia was that clear lines of
authority had to be established.
Jamestown Needs Order
• The King called for a sole governor who led with a group of
appointed advisors. This governor was given extensive powers
including the right to enforce martial law, if necessary. These
changes were nearly too little and too late, for Jamestown was just
then experiencing its "starving time."
• The first man to hold the position of governor was Sir Thomas West,
Lord de la Warr, with Sir Thomas Gates as lieutenant governor. It was
left to Gates to establish a strict code of laws upon his arrival in May
1610; these became known as "Laws Divine, Morall and Martiall."
• Even though these laws were very harsh, many felt that extreme
measures were necessary in order for the colony to have any chance
of surviving.
Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martiall
• MARTIAL• Imposed on the people, under direct enforcement of English
military.
• James I revoked Virginia’s charter and so it became a royal colony
(under direct control of the King)
• Sent more troops and settlers
• Laws:
• They included duties and obligations of settlers as well as
penalties for transgressions.
• There was to be one church, one God, and one law.
• No dissension would be tolerated.
YOU Decide…
• Would these rules have helped or hindered the
development and success of a new colony in the
Americas? Why or why not?
• Read the primary document. Underline *evidence* that will help
you to support your response.
• Then, turn to the person next to you and discuss.
 Things to consider…
• Why do you think these rules were made after two years of
settlement?
• Determine the primary source’s value to the history of Jamestown.