Jamestown: England's First Permanent Colony

England's first permanent colony in North America, established in 1606.

A group of English merchants who received a charter from King James I to establish Jamestown.

Jamestown's location was swampy, with salty, unsafe water; a location, that proved unsuitable.

Leader who saved Jamestown by enforcing hard work, leading to a healthier colony during its troubled period.

John Smith's famous policy to ensure that everyone in Jamestown worked hard to survive.

Challenges included poor planning, unsuitable location, lack of necessary skills amongst the colonists, and internal conflicts.

Many colonists were from the upper class, seeking treasure and not prepared for manual labor or to stay permanently.

Martha Forest and Anne Burras were the first women in Jamestown, arriving in the "Second Supply" of 1608.

Tobacco's demand led to constant expansion, conflicts with Native Americans, and increased reliance on labor.

English laborers who worked for a set period to repay their travel costs to America.

The need for more labor led to the introduction of African slaves in Jamestown, establishing the foundation for slavery in North America.

In 1619, twenty African slaves were exchanged for food, marking the beginning of slavery in Jamestown.

Early African slaves may have been treated more like indentured servants, with some gaining freedom after working a certain period.

Unsuccessful attempts to enslave Native Americans due to their knowledge of the land and strong community connections.

The first representative government in America, established in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia.

One of the House of Burgesses' first actions was to regulate the price of tobacco, reflecting its importance to the colony's economy.

Settlements established by Spanish missionaries in the Americas to convert Native people to Catholicism, often forcing them to work and abandon their own religion.

A person who teaches his or her religious beliefs to people with different beliefs.

The Spanish Empire's wealth in New Spain derived largely from gold and silver mines, as well as ranches and sugar cane plantations.

The Spanish brought slaves from Africa to New Spain to replace the shrinking workforce caused by disease, mistreatment, and death of indigenous laborers in mines and plantations.

French settlers in North America were primarily interested in acquiring furs, especially beaver pelts, which were highly valued in Europe.

Unlike the Spanish conquistadors, Samuel de Champlain, the first governor of New France, prioritized building friendly relationships with Native Americans to facilitate trade and ensure safe settlements.

Samuel de Champlain aimed to secure alliances with Native American groups to ensure safe and profitable trade in New France.

Beaver pelts were essential to the French economy in North America as they generated revenue through trade, funding further expeditions and helping to stabilize the colony.

French explorers who, in 1673, traveled down the Mississippi River, claiming the land drained by it for France.

Rene-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle led an expedition down the Mississippi River in 1682, claiming it and its tributaries for France. He named the region 'Louisiana' after King Louis XIV.

A fort built by Pierre Le Moyne Sieur D'Iberville at the mouth of the Mississippi River, strategically located just south of the future site of New Orleans.

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, Iberville's brother, continued his work after his death. He became governor of Louisiana and founded New Orleans in 1718.

The Louisiana Territory was fertile and suitable for farming, allowing settlers to build profitable plantations and grow crops like indigo, rice, and tobacco.

Successful plantations in Louisiana generated significant wealth through trade with American Indians, allowing farmers to expand their land holdings.

French colonists built forts in key locations to protect settlements from the Spanish and English, establishing their presence in Louisiana.

The main motivation for French explorers to explore North America was to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean, which would allow them to trade efficiently with Asia.

King James I took control of the Virginia colony from the Virginia Company due to its financial struggles and the Powhatan attacks. He sent royal governors to represent him and oversee the colony.

Despite the King's control, the House of Burgesses continued to meet annually. Although they no longer held full power, they valued discussing issues and presenting a unified front to the royal government.

Jamestown served as the capital of the Virginia colony until a fire destroyed the statehouse in 1699. By that time, many colonists had moved to other settlements, leading to the decision to relocate the capital.

Spain's approach to colonization focused on wealth acquisition, expansion, and converting indigenous people to Catholicism. It appointed governors who reported to the king and queen in Europe.

England's initial approach to Jamestown was governed by elected representatives, meaning the colonists had more autonomy than those in Spanish and French colonies.

Land grants offered by Spanish rulers to encourage expansion in New Spain. They included any indigenous villages on the land, and the natives were forced to work for the owner in exchange for basic necessities.

Spain aimed to prevent other European powers from claiming land in the Americas, thus aggressively expanding their territories. They were keen on converting native people to Catholicism and using the resources for their own benefit.

While the English colonial experience in Jamestown involved some initial cooperation with the Powhatan, the Spanish relationship with indigenous populations was based on conquest and exploitation.

A period of severe famine and hardship in Jamestown (1609) due to lack of food and leadership, leading to the death of most colonists.

A powerful alliance of about 30 Native American tribes in Virginia, led by Chief Powhatan, with thousands of warriors.

Avoiding conflict with the Powhatan, prioritizing trade and peaceful relations to ensure the survival of Jamestown.

He was a powerful leader who ruled over numerous tribes, influencing the start of Jamestown and its initial relationship with the natives.

He introduced tobacco to Jamestown, transforming its economy and leading to its future success.

He was an angered successor of Chief Powhatan who led wars against Jamestown due to its expansion into native lands.

Virginia's climate proved ideal for growing tobacco, which became a valuable commodity, leading to the colony's economic growth.

It became the first permanent English colony in North America, laying the foundation for the future growth of British settlements.