VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, &

DELAWARE

By Amber Donaldson & Mónica Coronado

VIRGINIA

THE START OF VIRGINIA

-Virginia was the first part of the country permanently settled by the English, who established Jamestown in 1607.

-In 1606, a joint-stock company, the Virginia Company, received a charter from King James I that allowed it to establish a colony in the New World.

-Not only did they plan to establish an English settlement in the America’s, but they also planned to search for gold and silver, and to search for a route to the Pacific Ocean that would allow them to trade with the Orient.

-Setting sail in the late 1606, the 104 men landed in the Chesapeake Bay, where Indians attacked them. The men soon chose a location on the banks of the James River, named in honor of King James I on May 24th, 1607.

Jamestown

RELATIONS WITH THE NATIVES-The Algonquian Indians lived around the Chesapeake Bay with their leader, Powhatan, who did not like intruders.

-Captain John Smith was kidnapped by Powhatan and almost executed.

-The English and the Indians had a rough start because the starving colonists would always steal food from them.

-Lord De La Warr grew even more strain between the Indians and the English, ultimately cause the Anglo-Powhatan War in 1614.

-Peace between both sides for a few years when John Rolfe and Pocahontas got married.

-The Indians got mad again at the English and started a second war.

-Peace treaty in 1646, but the Indians and English got even more separated from each other.

Pocahontas stopping Captain John Smith’s execution: Pocahontas’ and John Rolfe’s

wedding:

Lord De La Warr:

Anglo-Powhatan War:

RELIGION AT JAMESTOWN

The leaders of the Virginia Company were members of the Church of English and brought the established religion with them at Jamestown.

In 1607, the settlers built the first real church building and worshiped there until January 1608, where it was destroyed by fire and then rebuilt.

In 1610, Lord de la Warr made church attendance mandatory according to some laws and punishments were given if the services were not attended.

Settlers attending service in the church

First Church built in Jamestown

ECONOMY -The Indians introduced the

colonists to tobacco and they tried to sell it in England, but with no success.

In 1612, John Rolfe planted a sweeter tobacco and it quickly became Virginia’s main cash crop.

Profits from growing tobacco saved the Jamestown colony and fueled its growth.

Tobacco also promoted the broad acred plantation system and with it, a demand for fresh labor.

LABOR SOURCE

Colonists first used indentured servants for labor.

Slaves were introduced into the colony in 1619, but indentured servants were still common since they were cheaper.

A harsh slave code was issued, the African slaves were treated more harshly than the white slaves.

First slaves of Jamestown:

POLITICAL SYSTEM

In 1619, the Virginia Company authorized the settlers to summon an assembly known as the House of Burgesses.

It was made up of 22 members and met once a year to make laws for Virginia.

King James I revoked the charter of the Virginia Company in 1624 and planned to disband the House of Burgesses, but he died the following year.

As a result, Virginians kept their representative government.

House of Burgesses in Jamestown: