Social Studies Chapter 4: The Virginia Colonies (Lesson 2)
Who was John Rolfe?
A Jamestown leader who grew different kinds of tobacco and found a West Indian tobacco that became very popular and successful.
What was Jamestown? Where was it located?
A settlement along the shore of the James River.
Who was John Smith and how did he help save Jamestown?
A soldier tho became the leader of Jamestown. he made a rule that anyone who didn't work, didn't get to eat. As a result colonist started planting crops, building shelters, and protecting Jamestown from Indian attacks.
Who established Jamestown? When?
An English company named The Virginia Company in 1607. 105 colonist who were all men.
What led to the Powhatan Wars?
As more colonists arrived in Virginia, they began taking over Indian lands. Indians fought back to defend their lands. The colonists push the Indians from their lands and took them over.
What were the problems in settling Jamestown?
Bad land, colonists did not know how to farm, hunt or fish. They spent too much time looking for gold that they didn't plant crops or gather enough food so didn't have enough to eat. Many were dying.
Why did King James I take control of Virginia from the Virginia Company and make it a royal colony?
Because of the Powhatan War and the Virginia Company's debt (money they owed to England). This meant he owned the colony a chose a governor to share power with the House of Burgesses.
What was the Powhatan Confederacy? How did the colonists and Powhatan get along?
Eastern Woodland Indian tribes who were united under one main chief. In the beginning they did not get along. Colonists stole their crops, they fought, and would capture each other.
Who was Walter Raleigh? Who was John White?
Englishmen who Queen Elizabeth told to set up a colony in North America in 1584 (Raleigh) and 1587 (White)
What law did the House of Burgesses pass about church?
Everyone had to go to church on Sundays and they had to belong to the Church of England.
Who owned the Virginia Company? What did each owner get for giving money to set up the company?
Many people who all gave money to set up the company. In return they got stock (a share in the company) which meant they got some of the money the company earned.
Who could become members and vote in the House of Burgesses?
Only men who owned property. Slaves, indentured servants and women weren't allowed to vote or hold office
Who was Queen Elizabeth?
Queen of England who wanted to set up a colony in North America.
What was the established church in Virginia?
The Church of England also called the Anglican Church
Who was King James I
The King of England who gave permission to merchants to set up the Virginia Company
What did the Roanoke Island become know as?
The Lost Colony
Who was Pocahontas?
The Powhatan chief's daughter who saved John Smith's life when he was captured and help keep peace between the colonists and the Powhatan Indians
What happened to the Roanoke Island settlement?
The colonist had a hard time. They ran out of food and faced Indian attacks. John White (the leader) went back to England to get more food and supplies. When he returned (3 years later) all the settler were gone and no one knows what happened to them.
How did its location make life difficult for the settlers?
The land was low and swampy with lots of mosquitoes that carried diseases. Colonists did not know how to farm the land or fish or hunt there.
What were some the reasons England wanted to start colonies in North America?
The saw that Spain was becoming rich from gold and cash crops and wanted some of the wealth too, to gain land for England, and for raw materials like lumber that they could use to make products
Why were indentured servants and slavery introduced into Virginia?
There were a lot of tobacco plantations in Jamestown and they need lots of workers. The Virginia Company offered to pay for peoples' trip to Virginia if they agreed to work at the plantations for free for 4 to 7 years.
Why did the Virginia Company set up a legislature?
There were so many people living in the Virginia Colony they needed to set up some laws to keep order. They wanted the same right as the people living in England so they set up a legislature called the House of Burgesses.
What made Jamestown successful?
They made money because tobacco became their cash crop
What was the House of Burgesses? What was its job?
Virginia's legislature set up in 1619. The first representative assembly in the English colonies. It made laws.
What was Jamestown's cash crop?
tobacco