JamestownJamestown

England in AmericaEngland in America

The Lost Colony of RoanokeThe Lost Colony of RoanokeIn 1587, 91 men, 17 women, and 9 In 1587, 91 men, 17 women, and 9 children settled on Roanoke Island, off the children settled on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina.coast of present-day North Carolina.The settlers began building a The settlers began building a colony.colony.John White sailed to England for the John White sailed to England for the supplies and to recruit more settlers.supplies and to recruit more settlers.When he returned 3 years later, he found When he returned 3 years later, he found it deserted.it deserted.The only clue to the fate of the settlers The only clue to the fate of the settlers was the word was the word CroatoanCroatoan carved on a carved on a gatepost.gatepost.The Roanoke colonists were never seen The Roanoke colonists were never seen again.again.

Jamestown SettlementJamestown SettlementIn December 1606, the Virginia Company In December 1606, the Virginia Company of London sent 144 settlers in 3 ships to of London sent 144 settlers in 3 ships to build a new colony in North America.build a new colony in North America.

In 1607, the ships sailed up a river and In 1607, the ships sailed up a river and named the river the James and their new named the river the James and their new settlement settlement JamestownJamestown to honor their king. to honor their king.

The settlers built Jamestown on a The settlers built Jamestown on a peninsula so they could defend it from peninsula so they could defend it from attack.attack.

Jamestown SettlementJamestown SettlementThe site had major drawbacks: The site had major drawbacks: – The swampy land swarmed with mosquitoes The swampy land swarmed with mosquitoes

that carried disease. that carried disease. – It lacked good farmland.It lacked good farmland.

Settlers searched for gold and silver when Settlers searched for gold and silver when they should have been growing food.they should have been growing food.Hunger and disease took a toll on the Hunger and disease took a toll on the colonists.colonists.By spring 1608, when ships arrived with By spring 1608, when ships arrived with supplies and more settlers, only 38 of the supplies and more settlers, only 38 of the Jamestown colonists remained alive. Jamestown colonists remained alive.

Captain John Smith Captain John Smith The colony survived its first 2 years The colony survived its first 2 years because of 27 year old Captain John because of 27 year old Captain John Smith.Smith.

Smith forced the settlers to work, Smith forced the settlers to work, explore, and managed to get corn from explore, and managed to get corn from the local Native Americans.the local Native Americans.

Farming the LandFarming the LandOne colonist, John Rolfe, learned to grow One colonist, John Rolfe, learned to grow tobacco.tobacco.

The colony of Virginia began to prosper The colony of Virginia began to prosper and grow.and grow.

Relations with the Native Americans Relations with the Native Americans improved after Rolfe married Pocahontas, improved after Rolfe married Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan. the daughter of Chief Powhatan.

Representative GovernmentRepresentative GovernmentAs the colony grew, the settlers As the colony grew, the settlers complained about taking orders from the complained about taking orders from the Virginia Company in London. Virginia Company in London.

Ten towns in the colony each sent two Ten towns in the colony each sent two representatives called representatives called burgessesburgesses to an to an assembly.assembly.

The assembly had the right to make local The assembly had the right to make local laws for the colony.laws for the colony.

On July 30 1619, the On July 30 1619, the House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses met for the first time in a church in met for the first time in a church in Jamestown. Jamestown.