We’re Coming to America!

The settling of Jamestown

Before Jamestown there was Roanoke• In 1585, the English started a colony named

Roanoke (Island off current day North Carolina).

• Colony ends mysteriously??????

Before Jamestown there was Roanoke

• The colony completely vanishes.• Only thing found was the word “CROATOA”

carved on a nearby tree.

Settling of Jamestown• Founded in 1607 along the James River next

to Chesapeake Bay

Jamestown (its in Virginia)

Texas is this way, Y’all

Settling Jamestown• Funded by the Virginia Company of London

This is a joint stock company which is a business where people put their money all to together in order to turn profit (make money.)

• The colony is named after King James I of England

Hardships faced by the Settlers

• Disease • Laziness• Indians • Weather

Hardships faced by the Settlers

John Smith to the Rescue• Became the leader of Jamestown in 1608• Announced “He that will not work shall not eat.”

•Made friends with the Powhatan

Indian tribe and Chief Powhatan

•Built a fort around Jamestown

to protect from unfriendly Indians.

Tobacco Changes Jamestown

• In 1612, John Rolfe developed a type of tobacco that could grow in Jamestown

• Colony made money by selling tobacco to England

• The Virginia Company allowed settlers to own land.

Tobacco Changes Jamestown

• Indentured servants (people who sold their labor in exchange for passage to America) moved to America

• English brought African slaves to work on tobacco plantations

Conflicts with the Powhatans • At first, Powhatan traded food with colonists• 1622 Powhatan Indians killed hundreds of

Jamestown residents for taking their land.John Rolfe marries Chief Powhatan’s daughter

Pocahontas (daughter of Chief Powhatan and peacemaker between Indians and colonists)

House of Burgesses • Colonists angry with the

strict rule of the Virginia Co. of London.

• First representative assembly in the American colonies

• Elected representatives would provide control and resolve issues in Virginia.

• Representatives meet once a year in an assembly

Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 • Nathaniel Bacon was an upset citizen of

Jamestown.• Two reasons Nathaniel Bacon and followers

were angry at Governor Berkley:1. His failure to protect Jamestown from Indian attacks2. Governor liked the wealthy, high taxes, and low tobacco prices.

Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 (continued…) • Bacon and his followers took control of the

House of Burgesses and burned Jamestown to the ground

• Governor Berkley hung Bacon’s followers and Berkley was sent back to England

• After the Rebellion, the House of Burgesses passed a law preventing a royal governor from assuming so much power.