JAMESTOWN THE VIRGINIA COLONY US History Mrs Lacks

JAMESTOWN & THE VIRGINIA COLONY US History: Mrs. Lacks

Exploring Virginia • 1606: Bartholomew Gosnold’s jointstock company, known as the Virginia Company of London, received a charter from King James I of England for a settlement in the New World.

• 104 Settlers (men & boys) Susan Constant • Led by Captain Christopher Newport • Primary purpose: economic (sought riches in the new world) Discovery Godspeed

Exploring Virginia (Apr 1607) Possible 2 nd Settlement, Hog Island Jamestown First Landing, Cape Henry (VA Beach)

Jamestown

Jamestown

Jamestown • Life was more than difficult • Settlers faced • • lack of food rampant disease possible attacks by Natives Brackish water • they fought amongst each other for political power, and work load • Didn’t know the landscape of Virginia • Not educated in how to plant crops here

Starving Time • Winter of 1609 -10 • Disease, famine, and Indian attacks led to the deaths of most (only 60 of 500 survived) • Crazed for food, some settlers were reduced to cannibalism

Capt John Smith • saved Jamestown by • (1) making friends with the Powhatan • (2)“He who will not work, will not eat” • Many myths

Powhatan Village

• John Smith’s drawing of Chief Powhatan

John Rolfe • Tobacco seed • Save Jamestown (gave it a cash crop) • Married Pocahontas

John Gadsby Chapman, The Baptism of Pocahontas (1840) 1616 Engraving

Tobacco • Cash crop • Jamestown survives, and colonists start moving out of the fort to establish farms