The Virginia Company of London was a group of wealthy Englishmen who wanted to invest their money. They bought shares or stock in this company.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE MONEY!!

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1. To find gold or silver

2. To find a passage way to the Pacific Ocean

3. To convert (change) the Indians to Christianity.

104 men & boys came to settle Jamestown. Some were gentlemen who were rich and educated. Others were skilled workers such as carpenters, sailors, blacksmiths, bricklayers and tailors.

1. The Discovery2. The Susan Constant3. The Godspeed

They landed at Cape Henry.

The settlers explored one of the nearby rivers and named if after King James. They choose a narrow peninsula and named it Jamestown.

Jamestown was a good place because:1. It was easy to defend2. The water was deep enough to dock ships.

Jamestown was a bad place because:1. It was swampy2. Mosquitoes carried diseases3. The water was salty and unsafe for drinking.

1. Not used to hard work2. Little skills3. Did not know much about farming4. Leaders kept arguing5. They couldn’t go far from the

settlement because they were afraid of the Indians.

He helped because he made a rule:If you don’t work then you don’t eat.

1. He had the colonists dig a well to get fresh water.

2. He sent men to hunt and fish.3. He became friends with the Indians and traded

with them for food.

She saved John Smith’s life when the Powhatan Indians had captured and planned to kill him.

A friendship between the colonists and Pocahontas began and helped the colonist to survive.

Pocahontas' Life

She was the daughter Of Chief Powhatan.

There were big problems in 1609.

1. John Smith hurt his leg and had to go back to England.

2. The supplies were destroyed in a fire and had little to eat.

3. The relationship with the Indians became worse and they were not able to trade with them.

The colony needed money to survive because the stockholders would not keep giving money unless they made money.

The colonists tried to make products to be sold in England

1. Glass & Iron2. Silk3. Send lumber and wood products

In 1612, John Rolfe got seeds of tobacco grown in the Caribbean Islands. He planted them in Virginia.

Tobacco became Virginia’s first successful crop.

It is called a “cash crop” because it was grown to sell for money rather than be used by the grower.

Tobacco changed the colony. A large amount of land was needed. Other colonies formed along James River.

Wealthy land owners set up large farms called plantations. People who owned plantations were called planters. Most Virginia farmers had small farms not plantations.

Colonists used tobacco to barter (trade) for items or pay off debt.

Brides’ ship

Indentured Servants

General Assembly

The Virginia Company of London sent a ship of 90 young women from England.

It is called the brides’ ship because the women were sent so the men could have wives.

Indentured Servant- someone who agrees to work for a planter for a certain number of years in exchange for a free voyage and stay to Virginia.

• The planter provided food, clothing and housing.

• When the time was up, the servant was free and could own land.

A new government was formed. Jamestown was chosen as the first meeting location.

It had two branches:

Council:These men were appointed by the Virginia Company. They were wealthy. The council gave advice to the governor.

House of Burgesses:These members were voted on.But, only free men who owned at least 50 acres of land could vote.Each settlement had 2 burgesses.

Nathaniel Bacon was a wealthy planter.

He led a revolt against the government.

They were mad because the government did not protect farmers against Indian raids.

Governor William Berkley tried to keep peace. But…Bacon and his followers captured and burnt much of Jamestown.

A New Capital

Jamestown was rebuilt but a fire destroyed the statehouse in 1698.

So,Virginia moved to a settlement called

Middle Plantation.Today that spot is called Williamsburg.