Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Jamestown Jamestown

Mr. Freeman’s Mr. Freeman’s ClassClass

April 26, 1607April 26, 1607Jamestown was founded in 1607 by Jamestown was founded in 1607 by

105 male colonist from England.105 male colonist from England.

Named after King Named after King James James

Most men came Most men came looking for gold looking for gold not work just not work just wanted to be richwanted to be rich

Tough TimesTough Times The colonist picked a horrible site forThe colonist picked a horrible site forJamestown. It was surrounded byJamestown. It was surrounded bymarshes full of mosquitoes which marshes full of mosquitoes which

carriedcarriedMalaria.Malaria.

Most men were not Most men were not farmers or carpentersfarmers or carpenters

2/3 died the first year2/3 died the first year

John Smith strong John Smith strong leadershipleadership

John Smith took over and John Smith took over and forced everyone to workforced everyone to work Situation improve in Situation improve in Jamestown. Jamestown. Disney movie is not trueDisney movie is not true John Smith wasJohn Smith wasAbout 35 and About 35 and Pocahontas was Pocahontas was About 12-13About 12-13

Powhatan IndiansPowhatan Indians Pocahontas was a Powhatan Indian, her Pocahontas was a Powhatan Indian, her

people helped Jamestown colonist survive people helped Jamestown colonist survive by giving them food and by teaching by giving them food and by teaching them how to grow corn.them how to grow corn.

The Starving TimeThe Starving Time 1609 John Smith was injured and returned to 1609 John Smith was injured and returned to

England. England. Without strong leader Jamestown suffered Without strong leader Jamestown suffered

famine, winter, and disease took it toll on famine, winter, and disease took it toll on colonist. colonist.

By 1610 only 60 colonist survived out of 400By 1610 only 60 colonist survived out of 400

Would JamestownWould JamestownSurvive?Survive?

TobaccoTobacco A colonist name John Rolfe introduce a sweeterA colonist name John Rolfe introduce a sweetertobacco from the west Indiestobacco from the west Indiesto grow than the to grow than the bitter one that the Indians bitter one that the Indians used. used. Profits increased due to sale Profits increased due to sale of tobacco and new rules on of tobacco and new rules on land.land.More colonist came and More colonist came and Jamestown survived.Jamestown survived.

PocahontasPocahontas Pocahontas married John Rolfe theirPocahontas married John Rolfe theirmarriage brought peace tomarriage brought peace tocolonist and the Powhatancolonist and the Powhatanfor 4 yearsfor 4 years

Three years later on a trip toThree years later on a trip toEngland, Pocahontas died England, Pocahontas died from pneumonia or possiblyfrom pneumonia or possiblytuberculosis tuberculosis

Problems with the PowhatanProblems with the Powhatan After the death of Pocahontas and her fatherAfter the death of Pocahontas and her fatherthe colonist and Powhatan started to fight morethe colonist and Powhatan started to fight moredue to colonist interest in taking their land to grow due to colonist interest in taking their land to grow

moremoretobacco tobacco

Fighting Fighting Continued forContinued forNext 20 yearsNext 20 years

Became RoyalBecame RoyalColony due to Colony due to Fighting Fighting

Beginning of PlantationsBeginning of Plantations The Headright system gave people fromThe Headright system gave people fromEngland a chance to get 50 acres of land if they England a chance to get 50 acres of land if they paid their voyage to Virginia. If they brought paid their voyage to Virginia. If they brought family member or servants they got an family member or servants they got an

additional additional 50 acres for every person that they brought. 50 acres for every person that they brought. This helped rich people get the first plantations. This helped rich people get the first plantations. Now they needed Now they needed workers to work the workers to work the plantationsplantations

Indentured ServantsIndentured Servants Indentured Servants were used at first. They wereIndentured Servants were used at first. They werecolonist who signed a contract to work for 4-7 years colonist who signed a contract to work for 4-7 years

forforvoyage to Virginia. After their contract ended theyvoyage to Virginia. After their contract ended theywould get their 50 acreswould get their 50 acres

75% of Virginia early 75% of Virginia early colonist came this waycolonist came this way

Plantation owner still Plantation owner still wanted to find a cheaper wanted to find a cheaper way to make moneyway to make money

SlaverySlaveryThe first slaves came toThe first slaves came toVirginia in 1619.Virginia in 1619.

Plantation owners found Plantation owners found A cheap way to grow A cheap way to grow their tobacco withouttheir tobacco withouthaving to lose their having to lose their workers every 4-7 workers every 4-7

years.years.

Slavery on the plantation Slavery on the plantation Rich planters started to get more slaves fromRich planters started to get more slaves fromAfrica to help grow the tobacco crops. SlavesAfrica to help grow the tobacco crops. Slaveshad to work forhad to work forlife and werelife and wereowned by the owned by the plantation ownerplantation owner

Life was hard Life was hard For the slavesFor the slaves