Transcript 2.2 An English Settlement at Jamestown
2.2 An English Settlement at Jamestown
MAIN IDEA Two early English colonies failed, but Jamestown survived- partly through individual effort and hard work.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Jamestown’s survival led to more English colonies and a lasting English influence in the United States.
Roanoke and Sagadahoc
• First sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh in Virginia, 1585 and 1587.
-Settlers disappeared.
• Plymouth Company sponsored Sagadahoc (modern-day) Maine.
-Settlers went back to England.
Joint-Stock Company
• Investors fund colony and give charters; get profits.
• In 1607 , Virginia Company sends 150 people to found
Jamestown
.
Disastrous Start
• Colonists seek gold, suffer from disease and hunger.
•
John Smith
forces colonists to farm ; get help from Powhatan people.
• (1609) 600 colonists arrive; Powhatan destroy farms; “starving time”.
“Brown Gold” and Indentured Servants • New arrivals revive and expand colony.
•
Tobacco
becomes profitable ; export 1.5 million lbs. by the late 1620s.
•
Headright System-
purchaser of passage get 50 acres lures settlers.
• Plantation owners use
indentured servants
work 4-7 years for passage.
The First African Laborers
• Arrived 1619 , treated as indentured servants.
• Late 1600s, owners begin importing costly slaves because, -indentured population decreases.
-colony becomes wealthy.
The English Pattern of Conquest • English do not live or intermarry with Native Americans.
• Hostilities between Powhatan and English.
• 1614 marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe creates a temporary peace.
• Renewed fighting forces the king to make Virginia a
royal colony
.
House of Burgesses
(1619)
• To provide more local control.
• The company elected representatives that met once a year.
Economic Differences Split Virginia • Former indentured people settle frontier.
-Cannot vote.
-Pay high taxes.
• Battle natives; tension between frontier, wealthy.
• Governor refuses to give money to help frontier fight natives.
Bacon’s Rebellion
•
Nathaniel Bacon
raises army to fight natives on frontier (1676).
• Governor calls Bacon’s army illegal; Bacon sets fire to Jamestown.