Jamestown

Joint Stock Company- A business owned by many people

Virginia Company of London- Joint Stock Company developed to try and establish a colony in Virginia.

Please Note-When we speak of Virginia at this time we are talking of all land north of Spanish Florida and south of Canada along the Atlantic Coast.

Founding of Jamestown

First successful colony in 1607 that saw success due to many factors, including the popularity of crops like tobacco, leadership from John Smith and aid from Native Americans (ex. Pocahontas).

Goal: find gold and other natural resources

Jamestown

144 men sailed from England◦ 39 died during journey

Settle by the “James River”◦ Why did they chose to settle next to the river?

By river: easy to bring in people & supplies Inland: Hidden from Spanish ships sailing

in Atlantic

The Settlers

• Colonists struggled• Settlement was in swampland• Impure drinking water• Disease• Starvation• Lack of skills to hunt, fish, and/or farm• Native American attacks• Negative relations with Natives harmed local

trade

Adversity

John Smith- first leader of Jamestown. Told colonists they would not eat if they did not

work. Made friendly relations with Indians which

helped colonists survive.

John Smith

John Smith

Disney Version John Smith True Life Painting

Pocahontas

Disney English Painting

Introduced by John Rolfe, brought from the Caribbean illegally.

The use of tobacco as a cash crop saves the colony of Jamestown.

Tobacco

The use of tobacco as a cash crop allows Jamestown to grow as a colony.

More people start coming over to Jamestown. VA. Co. of London promises 50 acres of land to anyone that pays their way over to the Jamestown Colony.

Indentured Servants- people who would pay for passage to the new world, food, clothing and shelter by working off their debt. Usually this would be a 5-7 year commitment.

Jamestown Grows

Apprentices-People who learn a trade from a skilled worker.

Many of the people who came over to Jamestown would come over to learn a trade in order to make a living. Examples of skilled labor-silversmith, blacksmith, printer

Workers

Burgesses- Elected Representatives

House of Burgesses- Elected officials would meet and make laws for the colony. This is

the first representative

government in the American Colonies.

Colonial Government