NAME DATE Geography and History Activity
CLASS netw rks
Colonial America
Lesson 1 Roanoke and Jamestown
Understanding Place: Jamestown
Why was Jamestown located where it was? The answer lies in what
geographers call place. To geographers, places have physical
characteristics. These are features like rivers, mountains, and forests—
natural features.
The settlers who founded Jamestown did not have a specific location in
mind. But they did have an idea of the type of place they were looking
for. The Virginia Company had issued instructions to the colonists on how
to choose the best spot. They were to look for certain physical
characteristics.
The spot also needed to be convenient. The instructions said “choose
your place so far up [the river] as a bark (a type of ship) of fifty [tons]
will float, then you may lay all your [supplies] ashore with ease, and the
better receive the trade of all the countries about you in the land.” So
the spot needed to be by a deep part of the river. That way, the colonists
could tie their ship up right by the place, so they would not have to carry
their supplies too far.
The instructions also warned the colonists to locate their colony at a
place that would be difficult to attack and easy to defend. If enemies
came up the river in boats, “you shall from both sides of the river where
it is narrowest . . . beat them with your muskets as they shall never be
able to [win] against you.”
With defense in mind, the Jamestown colonists were also instructed to
take care to “choose a [place] that shall not be over [burdened] with
woods near your town . . . [I]t may serve for a [cover] for your enemies.”
Enemies could hide in the woods if the forest was too thick near the
colony.
The colonists spent two weeks exploring the area before they found a
place to their liking. You can still visit the spot they chose today. It is in
a national park—and it is right on the bank of a river!
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies.
The instructions told the colonists to “do your best . . . to find out a safe
port in the entrance of some navigable river.” A navigable river is one
that is wide and deep enough for a ship to travel. “When you have made
choice of the river . . . make election of the strongest, most wholesome
and fertile place. . . . Neither must you [settle] in a low or moist place,
because it will prove unhealthfull.” In other words, they were told to find
a nice spot along the river that was not too swampy.
NAME DATE CLASS Geography and History Activity Cont.
netw rks
Colonial America
Powhatan territory
Native American settlement
English settlement
Chesap
eake B ay
N
W
E
S
Jame s
R.
Jamestown
ATL AN T I C
O CE AN
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies.
DOPA (Discovering our Past - American History)
RESG
Chapter 3
Low-lying marsh or swamp
Map Title: Jamestown and the Chesapeake,
1607
Forested area
File Name: C03-50A-NGS-877712_WSGH.ai
Map Size: 25p6 wide x 24p0 deep
Date/Proof: March 24, 2011 - 4th Proof
Notes:
Jamestown
James River
N
W
E
S
DOPA (Discovering our Past - American History)
RESG
Chapter 03
Map Title:
NAME DATE Geography and History Activity Cont.
CLASS netw rks
Colonial America
Understanding the Concept
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. Defining What are the physical characteristics of a place?
2. Specifying Identify three instructions the Virginia Company
gave to the settlers for selecting a settlement site?
Applying the Concept
3. Applying Look at the maps. Describe the place where
Jamestown was located.
5. Evaluating In your opinion, did the settlers do a good job
of selecting a settlement site? Why or why not?
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies.
4. Interpreting How would Jamestown’s location have
helped the settlers defend against attackers coming up the
river from the sea?