1607

1607

Where would you set up shop and why would you choose that particular area?

Jamestown• The defeat of the Spanish in 1588 opened up English ability

and willingness to go to the new world.• 1st Colony in 1580’s failed (Roanoke)• They had heard about Spanish discoveries of gold and other

resources and wanted a piece. (Gold, wine, citrus fruits, olive oil)

• It was a business effort, not a social experiment. People invested money and hoped to be repaid handsomely.– Also a great opportunity to get rid of the “unwanted”

• The Virginia Company (Joint-Stock) was formed to fund this.• 1607 first 3 ships (105 people) left for Virginia.

– Arduous Trip took 4 months

Jamestown

• People came not to settle but to make money and go back.

•Expected to find gold, friendly natives, and easy living, but instead found disease starvation, dissension and death.• Ironic because they had a huge supply of

game and fish in the area but didn’t know how to exploit it.•Trade and info from the natives enabled

them to survive.

Natives• Powhatan “Confederacy”…about

10,000 in this eastern part of Virginia.– Powhatan was the leader of this

group.• Loose collection of tribes ruled by a

virtual dictator– Not nearly as big as what the Spanish

encountered– Didn’t really trust the natives but they

developed a lucrative trade with them

Problems• “Gentlemen” adventurers didn’t want to work.• Of the original 105, only 38 survived the first 9

months!• On verge of starvation, John Smith took lead and imposed strict

rules (imprisoned and whipped, and forced people into labor-idleness law).

• 1609, more people came to the colony (even some women!)• Some 400 arrived in 1609 and they overwhelmed the colony.

– “Starving Time”• Governor was De La Warr and then Sir Thomas Gates.

– Gates eventually brings about very strict rules…ran it like military• 1 guy who stole oatmeal was tied to a tree, tongue pierced with a long needle, &

left to die!– Began harsh relations with natives because they were taking more land.

Finally, a reason to exist!• 1612 John Rolfe

brought the weed over

•By 1616 it had become a stable crop•This leads to prosperity and development.•Ultimately, the sale of land and tobacco makes Jamestown profitable.• Headright system instituted (1618)• Indentured servants come over in droves.• England had a “surplus population” that had

people that were living in squalor known as paupers

1619-Colony establishes a representative assembly (house of Burgesses)

• Political structure:– King-governor-justice of peace, sheriffs, elected assemblies– Eventually, elected assemblies came to be very significant

(set prices for tobacco, set tax rates, pay governor, etc.)– Assemblies ruled by the wealthy who were in cahoots with

the governor• 1619 also important…first group of Africans brought

over by the Dutch…(indentured servants?)• 1619…women too!• What is the irony of this year?

By 1624, Company is dissolved

• King James the 1st no longer trusts the House of Burgesses

• Becomes a “royal” colony-ruled by King• For the most part, a handful of insiders came

to get the large estates and best land and monopolized the indentured servants.– Eventually this would be a major social problem

as the under-class couldn’t afford the “good” land

By 1650 there were 15,000 white residents

• Women had relatively good status– They could keep husband’s wealth and remarry (although

this had nothing to do with fairness and more to do with increasing the population)

• As tobacco prices leveled off, they moved to producing more foodstuffs and raising cattle.– This helped the population grow– This increased demand for land and pressure on natives

as the lower class couldn’t afford good central lands, so they often became tenants or risked going to the frontier

By 1676 problems were simmering

• Governor was Sir William Berkeley.– He despised commoners and

favored wealthy planters who supported his regime

– Newly freed indentured servants had to go west to get land and needed protection from Indians• He refused to give it

•Here comes Nathaniel Bacon (spoiled brat from England who just got here 2 years ago)• He leads a revolt against the governor• “Seeds of independence”?