TOPIC 2.2—THE CHESAPEAKE COLONIES (28-34)
I. The Jamestown Colony
A. The first English settlement in the Americas was the Jamestown colony established in 1607
1. Jamestown was created by a JSC (Joint Stock Company) for profits
2. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World
3. Settlers of Jamestown had been promised all rights of Englishmen in the Virginia Charter
B. The early years of the Jamestown colony were ones of bitter survival
1. Jamestown residents did poorly and barely survived their first years; problems of “gentlemen”; location
2. The Jamestown colony will be aided by the Powhattan Indians for a while; later enemies
a. Powhattan chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, aided Jamestown settlers; married John Rolfe
3. Few survivors during the period known as the “starving time”
C. The Jamestown colony will eventually be saved through the growth of tobacco; strain used by John Rolfe
D. Jamestown also survives b/c of the leadership of Captain John Smith
1. Smith forced “gentlemen” into labor; “He who shall not work shall not eat”
II. The Virginia Colony
A. The future Virginia colony (Jamestown) will be saved by John Rolfe and tobacco
B. Two major events in history also happened in the Virginia colony
1. Virginia was the first colony to establish a form of self-government in the New World called the Virginia
House of Burgesses; allowed for elected representation; established in 1619
2. The second major event involved the arrival of the first slaves in Jamestown in 1619
a. These slaves were brought by the Dutch
b. Slavery was not appealing early on b/c the cost of slaves was too high; settlers still poor
III. Maryland
A. The colony of Maryland was founded by Cecilus Calvert or Lord Baltimore
1. Founded in 1624
2. Maryland created as a “Catholic Haven” for persecuted Catholics in Europe
B. Maryland passed one of the first religious freedom laws in the Maryland Act of Toleration
1. Law was passed in 1649
2. The Maryland Act of Toleration stated all people who believe in Jesus Christ could worship in Maryland;
Jews & Atheists not allowed to worship in Maryland
a. Jewish people did not accept Jesus Christ as Messiah
b. Atheist do not believe in God