Jamestown: Myths and Realities

Mr. Bach

Accelerated United States History

English Colonization

• The Charter of the Virginia Company:The Charter of the Virginia Company:– Guaranteed to Guaranteed to

colonists the same colonists the same rights as Englishmen rights as Englishmen as if they had stayed as if they had stayed in England.in England.

– This provision was This provision was incorporated into incorporated into future colonists’ future colonists’ documents.documents.

– Colonists felt that, even in the Americas, they Colonists felt that, even in the Americas, they had the rights of Englishmen!had the rights of Englishmen!

Why did Jamestown nearly fail?

Goal of a Joint-Stock Company

• Investors would like to see a quick profit

• What would be the best way to realize a quick profit?

Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay

Jamestown Fort & Jamestown Fort & Settlement MapSettlement Map

Jamestown Fort & Jamestown Fort & SettlementSettlement

(Computer Generated)(Computer Generated)

Who Were the First Colonists?

Not

Starving Time

• Only 60 of 400 settlers survive winter of 1610-1611

So, how was Jamestown saved?

Captain John Smith

Those who shall not work, shall not eat

•Forging a “peace” with the Powhatan Confederacy

Pocahontas “Saves” John Smith

John Rolfe and the “Savior”

• The “Stinking Weed” makes Jamestown profitable.

• “Virginia’s gold and silver”– Rolfe, 1622

Jamestown Settlement Pattern

Powhatan UprisingPowhatan Uprisingof 1622of 1622

Powhatan UprisingPowhatan Uprisingof 1622of 1622

Jamestown: The Beginning of an American Mythology

Pocahontas