England’s First Successful Colony

I. King James I

A. interested in a colony. B. Grants a royal charter to Virginia

Company.

Introducing the King James hat collection

II. Jamestown

A. formed 1607 B. Settled along James River (VA) C. Built homes near a swamp D. Disease Spreads

III. Gold Diggers

A. Colonists wanted $ B. Spent days digging for Gold. C. Did not plant crops. D. Starvation threatens colony.

IV. John Smith

A. Saved the colony. B. Peace with Powhatan Indians. C. Returns to England – 1609. D. Colony nears ruin again.

“Desperate settlers cooked dogs, cats, rats, snakes and toadstools to survive. To keep warm, the broke up houses to burn as firewood.”

V. A Cash Crop

A. 1612 B. Colonists plant tobacco. C. becomes the leading cash crop

of Jamestown. D. $$$$$$$$$$E. 1620 - 30,000 lbs.

Of tobacco exported a year!

VI. Representative Government A. England = Monarchy (king) B. 1619 more people are needed in

Jamestown. C. Allow male settlers to elect officials to

make laws (called burgesses). D. meet at the House of Burgesses E. FIRST REPRESENTATIVE

GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA!

VII. Women in Jamestown Colony A. 1619 B. 100 women arrive in colony. C. quickly find husbands. D. Important to increase population of

Jamestown.

VIII. African Influence

A. 1619 1. Dutch trading ship appears. 2. cargo = 20 enslaved Africans.

B. Sold to colonists. C. Institution of slavery begins early in

North America.

Homework

A. Read chapter 3, section 4 (p. 87-91). B. Write a letter from the colonists

perspective back home to someone in England.

C. Explain what life is like in Jamestown.

D. Be Creative! E.