Leadership in Jamestown
Assignment:
Picture yourself in Tower of London, in the court of James I. You are a member of the Privy Council, an adviser to the
king. The English crown government wants to help the men in the Virginia Company establish a colony in the
Chesapeake region of the New World, in a place they had named Virginia. The English government will raise the
necessary money and supplies for the first colonists and help advertise in order to attract people to live there. James
I, the English king, will also be the ruler of the colony; however, Jamestown lies across the Atlantic over 2000 miles
away from London and the king. He will be too far away from the settlers to be an effective leader. The colony will be
impossible to control from London alone. In order for the colony to be successful, Jamestown needs its own leader, a
strong authority. Another problem is that the Virginia Company has never attempted to colonize the New World
before. They expect to find gold and lots of free, farmable land. (But Virginia in the 17th century was a wilderness
with no roads, and populated with Native Americans people who had already lived there for about 400 years!) If the
colony is to survive, there must be able leadership. The leader should be an experienced person, someone who can
make good decisions--lifesaving decisions. The leader must be able to lead (and sometimes discipline) men. He should
also have vision, and be loyal to the mission of the company and its goals. Last but not least, the leader must be a
person who could be diplomatic with the native peoples or know how to defend the colony if they became hostile.
Your group's mission is to select the first leader of Jamestown settlement. Debate the relative merits of each
applicant, and make a ratings analysis chart for the three candidates. Then defend your selection in front of the king
(or your teacher). You must give at least one reason why you chose your selected leader. Remember, you are
responsible for picking a leader who will get the settlers through the hardships of the first years of the colony.
Candidate A:
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served as an apprentice to a merchant
read books on warfare and leadership
survived a shipwreck
served several years in the English army--was taken into slavery but killed his master to escape
had contempt of men who could not work and pull their own weight
traveled to the Netherlands, France, Egypt, and Austria (and joined the Austrian imperial army)
was captured by the Turks and escaped
killed three Turks at one time in hand to hand combat
Candidate B:
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sailed with Sir Francis Drake as a freebooter who raided Spanish ships
searched for gold and the nonexistent Anion Strait for England
survived a shipwreck
has great skill in maritime matters
was a soldier in the English army
has a financial stake in the colony because he is a member of the Virginia Company
was knighted by the Queen for service provided to England
has traded goods with Native Americans
Candidate C:
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served in the English army
fought in Ireland (which was colonized by the English long before the New World)
served on the King's Privy Council (The Privy Council is similar to the American president's cabinet but it could
also issue executive orders)
studied at Oxford University
is a nobleman (he inherited his title from his father)
had served in Parliament
is distantly related to James I on his father's side
Glossary
apprentice
"A learner of a craft; one who is bound by legal agreement to serve an employer in the exercise of some
handicraft, art, trade, or profession, for a certain number of years, with a view to learn its details and duties,
in which the employer is reciprocally bound to instruct him." (Oxford English Dictionary at the Electronic Text
Center of the University of Virginia)
colony
"A settlement in a new country; a body of people who settle in a new locality, forming a community subject to
or connected with their parent state; the community so formed, consisting of the original settlers and their
descendants and successors, as long as the connexion with the parent state is kept up." (Oxford English
dictionary at the Electronic Text Center of the University of Virginia)
freebooter "One who goes about in search of plunder; esp. a pirate or piratical adventurer." (Oxford English dictionary at
the Electronic Text Center of the University of Virginia)
maritime
"Connected with the sea in relation to navigation, commerce, etc.; relating to or dealing with matters of
commerce or navigation on the sea." (Oxford English Dictionary at the Electronic Text Center of the
University of Virginia)
Privy Council
"The private counselors of the sovereign; spec. in Great Britain a body of advisers selected by the sovereign,
together with certain persons who are members by usage, as the princes of the blood, the archbishops, and
the chief officers of the present and past ministers of state. Its original function of advising the crown in
matters of state and administration is now discharged by the Cabinet (cabinet sb. 7 b), a select body of
ministers drawn from the Privy Council; and much of its business is carried on by committees, as the Board of
Trade (originally the Committee of Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations, now the Department of Trade
and Industry), the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, etc. Hence, to be `sworn of His Majesty' s Privy
Council' is now mainly a personal dignity, conferred chiefly in recognition of eminent public services." (Oxford
English dictionary at the Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia)
“Bravery”
The leader of Jamestown will be responsible for the lives of settlers in a strange land full of strange new people. The
unknown often causes people to have great fear. The colonists will look towards their leader for guidance as they face
unforeseen dangers and scary situations, especially with the Native Americans.
"Experience in the New World"
Knowing something of what to expect across the Atlantic would give a leader some confidence. If the leader has
already met Native Americans, Spanish adventurers, or French explorers during his travels, he may be better
equipped to deal with all the different kinds of people in the New World.
"Leadership Experience"
Knowing how and when to inspire people, direct them, and sometimes discipline them is an important quality for all
leaders. Also, a good leader will be able to think always about what is best for the whole colony, and solve problems.
"Connections to Court"
Jamestown will be ruled, ultimately, by the English monarchy in London. But because London is so far away, no one
there knows what is best for the colony. The leader's influence and experience in the court will benefit the whole
colony.
Rating Analysis Chart
Criteria for Leadership
Bravery
Candidate A
Candidate B
Candidate C
Experience
in New World
Leadership
Experience
Connections
in Court