6 Questions
What was the name given to the winter of 1609-1610 in the Jamestown colony?
The Starving Time
What was the main reason behind the economic struggles of the Jamestown colony?
Lack of precious metals and gems in Virginia
What was the valuable naval commodity that the colonists tried to produce from local pine trees?
Tar and pitch
What was the name of the colonist who experimented with tobacco production in Jamestown?
John Rolfe
What was the consequence of introducing private property in Jamestown?
Settlers worked harder to keep the profits from their tobacco crops
What was the significant event that occurred in 1617 in Jamestown?
John Rolfe shipped the first cargo of tobacco to England
Study Notes
The Early Years of Jamestown Colony
- The Jamestown colony faced significant challenges in 1609, including internal conflicts, food shortages, and conflicts with native peoples, leading to the devastating "starving time" that reduced the colony's population from 500 to 60 settlers.
Economic Struggles and Attempts at Profitability
- The Virginia Company of London investors grew impatient with the colony's lack of profitability, as no precious metals or gems were found in Virginia.
- To generate revenue, colonists attempted to refine pitch and tar from local pine trees, a valuable naval commodity.
- Glass blowers tried to produce glass products using local sand.
Tobacco: A Profitable Cash Crop
- In 1611, John Rolfe experimented with tobacco production, using a variety from the Caribbean that was suitable for the European market.
- Rolfe successfully cultivated tobacco in Virginia, and in 1617, he shipped the first cargo to England, establishing a profitable cash crop for the colony.
Privatization and Incentivization
- The introduction of private property gave settlers the incentive to work hard and retain the profits from the tobacco they raised.
This quiz covers the struggles of the Jamestown colony in its early years, including the 'starving time' and its economic struggles.
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