Jamestown, Virginia Jamestown, Virginia 16071607

Jamestown, 1607Jamestown, 1607

The Political and Economic The Political and Economic Development of JamestownDevelopment of Jamestown

Indentured Servants, Slavery Indentured Servants, Slavery and Tobaccoand Tobacco

Jamestown, 1607Jamestown, 1607 The Virginia London Company is given a The Virginia London Company is given a

charter by King James I.charter by King James I. Jamestown is a joint-stock company. It Jamestown is a joint-stock company. It

has investors pull their money together has investors pull their money together to reduce their losses should the to reduce their losses should the investment go bad.investment go bad.

1607, Jamestown becomes the 1st 1607, Jamestown becomes the 1st permanent English settlement in North permanent English settlement in North America. It is located in Virginia.America. It is located in Virginia.

Jamestown, 1607Jamestown, 1607

The English hope The English hope to find gold in the to find gold in the flat coastal plains flat coastal plains of the region.of the region.

Jamestown will be Jamestown will be plagued by malaria plagued by malaria and nasty sea and nasty sea water that seeps water that seeps into their wells. into their wells.

Jamestown, 1607Jamestown, 1607

Half of colonists die first Half of colonists die first year due to poor year due to poor leadership and no leadership and no knowledge of farming.knowledge of farming.

When befriended by When befriended by Indians colonists expect Indians colonists expect Indians to support Indians to support them.them.

Both groups annoyed at Both groups annoyed at each other.each other.

The Starving Time, 1609The Starving Time, 1609

1608, John Smith takes 1608, John Smith takes charge by compelling charge by compelling colonists to work and colonists to work and learn how to farm.learn how to farm.

““Starving time”, 1609 Starving time”, 1609 colonists face food colonists face food shortages and turn to shortages and turn to digging up graves to digging up graves to eat.eat.

60 out 400 colonists 60 out 400 colonists are left. Jamestown is are left. Jamestown is abandoned in 1610.abandoned in 1610.

Economic developmentEconomic development Process of trial and error for wealthProcess of trial and error for wealth

Try mining 1607-1610Try mining 1607-1610 Try silk production 1611-1616Try silk production 1611-1616 Success with tobacco 1612-1800Success with tobacco 1612-1800

Process of trial and error for laborProcess of trial and error for labor Native Americans run away Native Americans run away Indentured servantsIndentured servants Dutch trade African slaves for supplies Dutch trade African slaves for supplies

in 1619in 1619

Tobacco Production Tobacco Production

• Mostly young unskilled Mostly young unskilled males males somesome are skilled are skilled craftsmencraftsmen

• Sign aSign a 4-7 year 4-7 year contract which is contract which is payment for their payment for their passage to Virginiapassage to Virginia

• 1/2 die before contract 1/2 die before contract over. But if you survive over. But if you survive you receive clothes, food, you receive clothes, food, land, and a gunland, and a gun

Indentured Servants

John Rolfe introduces a John Rolfe introduces a milder tobacco which milder tobacco which becomes popular in becomes popular in EnglandEngland

The English need land to The English need land to grow tobacco and will push grow tobacco and will push the Indians off their landthe Indians off their land

Indians will be removed Indians will be removed from their land because of from their land because of diseases and warfare for diseases and warfare for land to grow tobaccoland to grow tobacco

Tobacco

Political DevelopmentPolitical Development 1609, John Smith, capable leader who 1609, John Smith, capable leader who

imposed “work and order on the community” imposed “work and order on the community” in other words “those who work, will eat”in other words “those who work, will eat”

1610, Lord Del La Warr, he was meaner than 1610, Lord Del La Warr, he was meaner than Smith, 1st governor who introduces private Smith, 1st governor who introduces private ownership of land to settlers in Jamestownownership of land to settlers in Jamestown

1619, House of Burgesses 1st elected 1619, House of Burgesses 1st elected representative assembly in North Americarepresentative assembly in North America

All men ages 17 and over are allowed to vote All men ages 17 and over are allowed to vote in 1619in 1619

Lord Del La Warr arriving at Lord Del La Warr arriving at Jamestown, 1610Jamestown, 1610

Social DevelopmentSocial Development Those who come to Those who come to

Jamestown are seeking Jamestown are seeking gold and riches.They gold and riches.They are not farmers and are not farmers and craftsmen.craftsmen.

During Indian raids During Indian raids they do not help each they do not help each other unless forced or other unless forced or lead. They are looking lead. They are looking out for themselvesout for themselves..