Jamestown

The Virginia Colony

Geographic Setting• On the James River in Virginia

– The River could…• Protect from ocean attack • Provide an easy escape route from the

Natives (if needed)• Carry goods • Swamp land full of mosquitoes which carry

disease

Nature of Settlers• Most settlers were soldiers,

adventurers, or men who wanted to make $ quickly and return to England. Many were from the gentleman class.

• The men were not used to working with their hands and did not want to spend time building houses or growing crops

• Came looking for gold

Relationships with the Indians

• Stole crops from the Native Americans and fought with them

Failures of the Virginia Colony

• No gold• No food• Disease (1607-1622: 8,000 of 10,000

settlers died of Malaria)• Running out of available land• Poor relationship with the Native Americans• Swampy land• Salt water got into the river and made

people sick

Successes of the Virginia Colony

• John Smith, a soldier/settler, tried to bargain with the Algonquins and their Chief, Powhatan– Traded hatchets, beads and copper for corn and

beans to feed settlers– He made all colonists share in the work and

told them “those who don’t work, shall not eat.”• Creation of the House of Burgesses, 1st govt. in

America where a representative voted on laws for the colony

• John Rolfe came up with the idea of planting tobacco which became a HUGE cash crop

• Women came to the colony