Jamestown

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Jamestown
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Founding of Jamestown

• The Virginia Company, a joint-stock company, was
  granted a charter by King James I to found a
  colony on the eastern shores of North America.
• Joint Stock Company Modern Public Corporation
• Investors pool money to serve as capital for
  company with possibility of profits for each
• John Smith Leads first settlement group

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Early Problems and Solutions

• Colonists suffered from disease and lack of food
  because they only wanted to search for gold
  rather than plant crops or gather food.
• Relationship with local Powhatan tribe not an
  easy one.
• Pocahontas
• Starving Time

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Solutions for Jamestown

• John Smith persuaded the Powhatan people to
  provide food
• The colonists slowly begin to work, and grow own
  food
• John Smith had to return to England due to
  injury.

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New Leadership and Success

• Jamestown began to flourish with new leaders who
  imposed strict discipline
• John Rolfe
• The development of the highly profitable tobacco
  crop saves the colony.
• Headright system
• Indentured servants

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Colonial Self Government

• The New Leadership allows for the development of
  the House of Burgesses.
• Representative assembly
• Elected by landowners
• Colonists govern themselves

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Labor Issues

• Former indentured servants
• No to buy land, cant vote, NO rights
• Have to move to frontier
• Constantly battling Natives
• Oppressed- high taxes, no protection from Native
  Americans
• Sir William Berkely abused power ignored needs
  of settlers

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Rebellion

• Nathaniel Bacon (hates Natives) raises an army
  1676 because House of Burgesses and Governor
  refuse to act
• Angry that frontier colonists are NOT represented
  in House of Burgesses
• Gov. Berkeley calls Bacons army illegal so
  Bacon sets fire to Jamestown
• Exposed the growing power of the colonys former
  indentured servants
• Indentured servitude is outlawed
• Slavery becomes dominant form of Labor
• Wealthy try to get a tighter grip on their power