Jamestown:Jamestown: America’s First ColonyAmerica’s First Colony

By By

Elaine M. VoltzElaine M. Voltz

June 1606June 1606

• King James I granted charter King James I granted charter to the Virginia Company ( a to the Virginia Company ( a group of London group of London entrepreneurs) entrepreneurs)

• They were to settle in the They were to settle in the Chesapeake regionChesapeake region

• Charged with settling Charged with settling Virginia, finding gold, and Virginia, finding gold, and finding a water route to the finding a water route to the OrientOrient

• Had the power to appoint the Had the power to appoint the Council of VA, the governor Council of VA, the governor and other officials and other officials

• Had the responsibility of Had the responsibility of providing the settlers with providing the settlers with shelter, supplies, and ships shelter, supplies, and ships for venture for venture

December 1606December 1606

• Close to 200 persons set Close to 200 persons set sail from London sail from London

• The three ships used were The three ships used were the Susan Constant, the the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Godspeed, and the DiscoveryDiscovery

• Majority of travelers were Majority of travelers were gentlemengentlemen

• Artisans, craftsmen, and Artisans, craftsmen, and laborers were also on laborers were also on boardboard

• Strong trade winds off the Strong trade winds off the coast of England extended coast of England extended the journeythe journey

May 14, 1607May 14, 1607

• Settlers landed in a marshy Settlers landed in a marshy area along the James River, area along the James River, about 60 miles from the mouth about 60 miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bayof the Chesapeake Bay

• 45 of the original travelers did 45 of the original travelers did not survive the journeynot survive the journey

• Settlers were immediately Settlers were immediately attacked by Algonquian attacked by Algonquian natives natives

• Decided to build a triangular-Decided to build a triangular-shaped wooden fort for shaped wooden fort for protectionprotection

• Inside the fort was a Inside the fort was a storehouse, a church, and storehouse, a church, and many homesmany homes

• Eventually traded copper and Eventually traded copper and iron implements for food from iron implements for food from the nativesthe natives

December 1607December 1607

• John Smith, (leader) John Smith, (leader) was captured by was captured by nativesnatives

• Met with the chief, Met with the chief, Powhatan, was treated Powhatan, was treated well at first, then was well at first, then was prepared to be beaten prepared to be beaten to deathto death

• Smith saved by eleven Smith saved by eleven year old Pocahontas, year old Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief the daughter of Chief PowhatanPowhatan

• They became friendsThey became friends

Background InfoBackground Info

• Powhatan’s village Powhatan’s village was called was called WerowocomocoWerowocomoco

• Located just north Located just north of Jamestown on of Jamestown on the York Riverthe York River

June 1609June 1609

• John Smith injured in gunpowder explosion and John Smith injured in gunpowder explosion and departed for Englanddeparted for England

• Only 60 of the original settlers still aliveOnly 60 of the original settlers still alive• Fierce winters, starvation, diseases from the Fierce winters, starvation, diseases from the

mosquitoes and unhealthy water, frequent Indian mosquitoes and unhealthy water, frequent Indian attacks killed off the othersattacks killed off the others

• Remaining survivors buried cannons and armor Remaining survivors buried cannons and armor and abandoned the townand abandoned the town

• Returned when the new governor, Lord De La Returned when the new governor, Lord De La Ware arrived with suppliesWare arrived with supplies

April 1613April 1613

• Pocahontas kidnapped Pocahontas kidnapped and brought to and brought to Jamestown for a ransom Jamestown for a ransom

• Exchange never took Exchange never took place place

• Pocahontas sent to Pocahontas sent to another settlement another settlement where she learned where she learned English, converted to English, converted to Christianity, and was Christianity, and was baptized and renamed baptized and renamed RebeccaRebecca

1614 - 16161614 - 1616

• When told John Smith was When told John Smith was dead, Pocahontas’ visits dead, Pocahontas’ visits became infrequentbecame infrequent

• Eventually met and Eventually met and married John Rolfe, a married John Rolfe, a tobacco entrepreneurtobacco entrepreneur

• Marriage brought about Marriage brought about peace and prosperity to peace and prosperity to JamestownJamestown

• Rolfe took Pocahontas and Rolfe took Pocahontas and their son Thomas to their son Thomas to England in 1616England in 1616

• Seven months later, an ill Seven months later, an ill Pocahontas died at the age Pocahontas died at the age of 22of 22

July 1619July 1619

• House of Burgess convened at Jamestown House of Burgess convened at Jamestown on July 30thon July 30th

• Meeting was held to establish one equal Meeting was held to establish one equal and uniform government for all of Virginiaand uniform government for all of Virginia

• A Dutch slave trader exchanged a cargo of A Dutch slave trader exchanged a cargo of Africans for foodAfricans for food

• Africans became indentured servants (an Africans became indentured servants (an important event in the shaping of America)important event in the shaping of America)

• Women were brought over from EnglandWomen were brought over from England

16221622

• Throughout the Throughout the years, the years, the Algonquians altered Algonquians altered between peace and between peace and war with the settlerswar with the settlers

• A surprise attack left A surprise attack left 300 settlers dead 300 settlers dead

16241624

• King James I revoked the charter with King James I revoked the charter with Virginia Virginia

• Made it a Crown colony, the first in Made it a Crown colony, the first in the coloniesthe colonies

16981698

• Capital was moved to Williamsburg Capital was moved to Williamsburg

• Jamestown slowly disappearedJamestown slowly disappeared

SourcesSources

• www.apva.org/history/vaco.htmlwww.apva.org/history/vaco.html

• www.historyisfun.org/jamestown/jamwww.historyisfun.org/jamestown/jamestown.cfmestown.cfm

• www.u-s-history.com/pages/www.u-s-history.com/pages/h519.htmlh519.html

• Online activity: Online activity: www.historyglobe.com/jamestownwww.historyglobe.com/jamestown