Jamestown
Write down everything in YELLOW
Objectives
I can identify and explain the history and
colonization of the Jamestown colony.
I can investigate the early problems of the
Jamestown colony.
Vocabulary
Colony - a settlement of a town or group
of towns by another country
Charter - Contract
In 1606 King James (England) gave a charter to
the Virginia Company to start a new colony.
Settle in Virginia
Find gold
Find a water route to Asia
100 Men left on 3 ships to Jamestown in
December 1606.
Textbook p.180
“Jamestown sat on a peninsula a few miles from the ocean
into Chesapeake Bay. The location seemed to be safe from
Spanish ships. But the water was salty and dangerous to
drink. The swampy land held another danger, diseasecarrying mosquitoes. That summer almost half of the
colonists died. By winter the survivors were desperate.”
What were some of the problems the colonists faced?
Occupation (Job) of Jamestown Settlers
Councel
6
Bricklayers
2
Preacher
1
Mason
1
Gentlemen
29
Tailor
1
Carpenters
6
Drummer
1
Blacksmith
1
Laborers
12
Sailer
1
Boys
4
Barber
1
Surgeon
1
Discuss with your
table:
What were most of
the settlers? How do
you think this
impacted the colony?
What were some of the early problems Jamestown faced?
Settlers did not know how to farm or fish. (Most were gentlemen).
The settlers spent all their time looking for gold instead of planting food.
Leaders did not get along.
Water was unsafe to drink.
Mosquitoes caused diseases and sickness.
How did building Jamestown affect Native Americans nearby?
What Native American’s lived near Jamestown?
Powhatan Confederacy - a group of 30 tribes of Eastern Woodland Native
Americans that worked together.
Their leader was Chief Powhatan.
Native Americans did not like the colonists because the
colonists started to steal their food.
Why do you think they were stealing the Native American’s
food?
Textbook p.180
“By 1608 Smith was disgusted with the colonists. They spent their time looking for
gold instead of planting crops. Their only interest, he said, was to “dig gold, refine
gold, load gold.” So Smith declared, he that will not work shall not eat.” HE forced
colonists to build houses, plant crops and raise livestock. Most of the men and
boys at Jamestown had not worked in England. THey were not used to such
tasks. Smith’s orders made him unpopular, but he kept the colonists alived.”
Discuss at your Table:
How do you think the
colonists reacted to
Smith’s new rule?
1608 John Smith became a new
leader! He made a new rule.
IF YOU DON’T WORK, YOU
DON’T EAT!
Good news!
John Rolfe found a solution the rough times in the colony.
John Rolfe’s solution was to grow tobacco which became a cash
crop.
Colonists hoped to become wealthy from growing tobacco.
The Virginia Company gave the colonist’s more land to own and
they could grow tobacco.
John Rolfe married Pocahontas (Chief Powhatan’s daughter) and
created peace between the colonist’s and the Native American’s.
Virginia Grows
Indentured Servant: Many people could not afford the voyage to the New World.
The Virginia Company would pay their voyage. To repay the debt, each person
agreed to work 5-7 years.
I can make predictions about the Jamestown Colony.
I can explain the Jamestown economy.
EVENT
A ship of 100 women came to
Jamestown.
A ship of 20 African’s came.
Jamestown was allowed to
elect their own lawmakers
and form their own legislature.
PREDICTIONS
EVENT
PREDICTIONS
A ship of 100 women came to
Jamestown.
● The settlers married and had families.
● The women became wives and had children.
● The population of Jamestown increased.
A ship of 20 African’s came.
Jamestown was allowed to
elect their own lawmakers
and form their own legislature.
EVENT
A ship of 100 women came to
Jamestown.
PREDICTIONS
●
●
●
A ship of 20 African’s came.
Jamestown was allowed to
elect their own lawmakers
and form their own legislature.
●
●
The settlers married and had families.
The women became wives and had
children.
The population of Jamestown
increased.
1st Africans to arrive in Jamestown.
They were indentured servants, but
eventually became slaves.
EVENT
A ship of 100 women came to
Jamestown.
PREDICTIONS
●
●
●
A ship of 20 African’s came.
Jamestown was allowed to
elect their own lawmakers
and form their own legislature.
●
●
The settlers married and had families.
The women became wives and had
children.
The population of Jamestown
increased.
1st Africans to arrive in Jamestown.
They were indentured servants, but
eventually became slaves.
● 1,000 colonists in Jamestown needed laws to
keep order.
● Legislature → House of Burgesses →
representative government chosen by the
people to make decisions
● 1st government in colonies
Tobacco in Virginia
Tobacco was making a profit ($$) for the Virginia Company.
More settlers came to the colonies because they wanted to get rich.
Settlers needed more slaves to work on the tobacco plantations (big farms).
More land was taken from the Native Americans to grow tobacco.
Native Americans were ANGRY.
166 → Chief Powhatan attacked and killed 300 colonists
CAUSED A WAR BETWEEN NATIVE AMERICANS AND COLONISTS
The colonists won because they had better weapons and they took the rest of
Chief Powhatan’s land.
Quick Check - Can you answer all these questions?
1. What colony?
2. When was it founded?
3. Where?
4. Why?
5. Who founded it?
6. Name 3 problems in Jamestown
7. What crop was important to Jamestown?
8. What is the House of Burgesses?