Jamestown Settlement Quiz

Jamestown Settlement

• Jamestown was the first permanent English colony in America, established in 1607.
• The Virginia Company, a group of wealthy investors, established the colony.
• King James I issued a charter to the Virginia Company in 1606 for the purpose of settlement and civilization of America. The King wanted to prevent Spanish advancements in the New World.

Reasons for Settling Jamestown

• Investors sought economic opportunities, anticipating wealth from gold and minerals.
• Settlers arrived in April 1607.
• Edward Maria Wingfield was elected president of the governing council and selected the island location.
• The location was inland enough to hide from the Spanish but had deep water to anchor ships and swamps for protection from local Native Americans.
• There were about 14,000 Powhatan Indians living in the Virginia area, Chief Powhatan's daughter was Pocahontas.
• The Powhatans had communal land ownership and didn't recognize the idea of private land ownership.

Jamestown Settlers' Occupations

• There were a variety of occupations among the first settlers:
  • Council members (6)
  • Preacher (1)
  • Gentlemen (29)
  • Carpenters (6)
  • Blacksmith (1)
  • Sailor (1)
  • Barber (1)
  • Bricklayers (2)
  • Mason (1)
  • Taylor/Tailors (1)
  • Drummers (1)
  • Labourers (12)
  • Boys (4)
  • Surgeon (1)

The Starving Time

• Many settlers weren't accustomed to work.
• They didn't plan for harsh winters.
• Too much time was spent searching for gold and minerals instead of essential tasks.
• Disease from the infected river, hunger from not planting crops, and attacks by local Native Americans were major causes of death during this time.

John Smith's Arrival

• John Smith supposedly was saved by Pocahontas.
• He took leadership of the colony.
• He implemented a policy "He that will not work, shall not eat."

Help Arrives

• When 2 ships arrived from England in 1609 with resources and new settlers only about 60 colonists were left.

Tobacco

• Tobacco became a cash crop that colonists could sell, creating a system for trade and profit
• John Rolfe created a smoother breed of tobacco, making it very popular in England.
• The marriage of John Rolfe to Pocahontas further helped trade and the spread of tobacco.

Labor Arrives

• Growing tobacco was labor intensive. More colonists were needed to work.
• Indentured servants, poor English individuals, arrived to work for a number of years in exchange for their journey and passage to America.

Slavery

• Eventually, slavery became necessary to meet growing labor demands.
• First Africans were brought to Jamestown in 1619.

The House of Burgesses

• The House of Burgesses was established in 1619 so colonists could create their own laws.
• It became the first representative government in America.

Women Arrive

• In 1620, about 90 women arrived from England.
• This allowed settlers to establish families and made Jamestown more of a community.

Jamestown in 1620

• Jamestown had become a more established community by 1620, with improved infrastructure, trade and relationships with surrounding groups.

Test your knowledge on the Jamestown Settlement, the first permanent English colony in America established in 1607. This quiz covers the reasons for settlement, key figures, and interactions with Native Americans. Discover the economic motivations and the significance of King James I's charter.