Chapter 5Section 1 Notes

Lost Colony at Roanoke; Staking a Claim in the AmericasEngland’s first attempt to claim part of North

America occurred in 1585, when SIR WALTER RALEIGH established a small settlement on ROANOKE ISLAND off the coast of modern-day NORTH CAROLINA. Several years later, however, all traces of the colony mysteriously disappeared.

Despite ROANOKE’S failure, English merchants were eager to gain a share of the riches to be found in the Americas. In 1606, several English companies sent a number of colonists to establish a settlement in North America.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Roanoke Island

“Lost Colony”

The Settlement of JamestownIn 1607, a group of English colonists established a

settlement called JAMESTOWN on the shores of the James River in modern-day VIRGINIA.

Many colonists at JAMESTOWN were more interested in searching for GOLD than in working and planting crops. Nearly half of the colonists DIED.

The colonist JOHN SMITH took charge. He forced his fellow colonists to work and obtained help from local NATIVE AMERICANS. Conditions at JAMESTOWN soon improved.

An injury forced SMITH to return home. Soon the colony faced hardship again. Only 60 settlers survived the winter of 1609-1610.

Jamestown

John Smith

Pocahontas

Pocahontas Saving John Smith

The Growth of JamestownJamestown recovered after more colonists arrived and

the colony began producing TOBACCO to sell to England.

In 1619, a Dutch ship brought the first AFRICANS to Jamestown. They most likely worked as servants and later became FREE CITIZENS.

With encouragement from England, more and more women traveled to Jamestown. Soon, the colony became home to many families and a GROWING POPULATION.

At first, Jamestown settlers and the Native Americans got along. As the colonists began settling greater amounts of land, however, the two groups began to CLASH.

Tobacco

John Rolfe

Drying Tobacco Plants

The Beginning of Self-GovernmentWhile the LONDON COMPANY ultimately

ruled Jamestown, a form of REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT soon took shape in the colony.

Adult FREEMEN could elect REPRESENTATIVES to a colonial assembly called the HOUSE OF BURGESSES. This body could enact laws to govern the colony.

In 1624, KING JAMES I took over Jamestown and made it a royal colony. However, he did not abolish the HOUSE OF BURGESSES.

King James I

King James I