History of the Virginia Company

Questions and Answers

Match the following events with their corresponding years:

John Rolfe marries Pocahontas = 1614 Establishment of the House of Burgesses = 1619 First enslaved Africans brought to the colony = 1619 Treaty ceding land to Jamestown = 1646

Match the following figures with their roles or actions:

John Rolfe = Introduced a new type of tobacco Pocahontas = Daughter of Chief Powhatan Chief Powhatan = Leader of the local tribe Colonists = Built forts and settlements

Match the following items with their associated significance:

Tobacco = Brought prosperity to the colony House of Burgesses = Model for representative government Enslaved Africans = Forced labor on plantations Diseases = Threatened the Powhatan population

Match the following crops with their relevant descriptions:

Corn = Good crop harvested by colonists Tobacco = Smooth type cultivated by Rolfe Cotton = Crop worked on by enslaved Africans Native plants = Learned to grow from Powhatan Signup and view all the answers

Match the following challenges with their effects on the Powhatan tribe:

Diseases = No immunity, population decline Colonists' arrival = Pressure on land resources Treaty in 1646 = Ceded most land to Jamestown Tobacco plantations = Increased colonist expansion Signup and view all the answers

Match the following historical figures with their roles in the Jamestown settlement:

King James I = Granted a charter to the Virginia Company Chief Powhatan = Led the local Algonquian tribes John Smith = One of the leaders of the colony Queen Elizabeth I = The 'Virgin Queen' after whom Virginia was named Signup and view all the answers

Match the following events with their significance in Jamestown's history:

Starving Time = Period of hunger and illness among settlers Arrival of new settlers = Provided much-needed supplies and food Formation of the Virginia Company = Planned for gold and trade route to Asia Trade partnership with Powhatan = Essential for colonists' survival Signup and view all the answers

Match the following locations with their descriptions related to Jamestown:

James River = Location where the settlement was established Chesapeake Bay = Near the mouth of the river chosen for settlement Peninsula = The geographical feature where Jamestown was located England = Place from which the settlers departed Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions related to the Virginia Company:

Cavaliers = Nickname for the early Jamestown colonists Colombian Exchange = System of trade that drastically altered ecosystems Charter = Official permission granted to establish a settlement Settlers = Individuals who establish a community in a new land Signup and view all the answers

Match the following supplies with their uses during the Jamestown settlement:

Corn = Main food source traded from Powhatan Beads = Items used for trading with Native Americans Tools = Provided for survival through trades Storehouse = Location for weapons and supplies in the settlement Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Founding of Jamestown

King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company of London in 1606 to establish a settlement in North America.
The term "Virginia" referred to the entire eastern coast from Florida to Canada, named after Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen.”

Goals of the Virginia Company

Aimed to find gold and a sea route to the Pacific for quicker access to Asian markets.
In December 1606, around 100 colonists departed England on three ships, reaching the New World by May.

Location of Jamestown

Settlers chose a peninsula in the James River, approximately 60 miles from the Chesapeake Bay's mouth.
The site offered protection from Spanish ships and local Native American tribes, with a narrow connection to the mainland.
Jamestown included a triangular wooden fort, a storehouse, a church, and several homes.

Early Struggles

Colonists faced severe hunger and disease upon arrival, termed the "Starving Time."
The local Algonquian tribes, led by Chief Powhatan, posed a constant threat, though trade developed between them and the settlers.

Key Relationships

John Smith, a leader of the colony, established a crucial trading relationship with Chief Powhatan by early 1608, exchanging tools for corn.
After Smith returned to England in 1609, the colony suffered a harsh winter, leading to over 100 deaths and extreme desperation for food.

Reviving the Colony

The arrival of two ships with 150 new settlers and supplies in spring 1610 helped to revive Jamestown.
New colonists constructed forts and settlements along the James River, achieving a successful corn harvest by fall 1611.

Cultural Interactions and Economic Development

John Rolfe's marriage to Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's daughter, in 1614 fostered a period of relative peace.
Rolfe introduced a new variety of tobacco that became popular in England, enhancing the colony's prosperity.

Governance and Labor

In 1619, an elected assembly named the House of Burgesses was established, setting a precedent for representative government in future colonies.
The first enslaved Africans arrived the same year, beginning a nearly 250-year era of slave labor in America.

Impact on Native Americans

The Powhatan confederacy was significantly affected by disease and the settlers' encroachment, leading to a 1646 treaty that ceded most of their land to Jamestown.

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Description

Explore the significant events surrounding the Virginia Company, established by King James I in 1606. This quiz covers the motivations for colonization, including the search for gold and trade routes. Test your knowledge on the early settlement and its impact on North America.