A (very) Brief Overview of Jamestown:
The founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony, in Virginia in 1607 – 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts – sparked a series of cultural encounters that helped shape the nation and the world. The government, language, customs, beliefs and aspirations of these early Virginians are all part of the United States’ heritage today.
The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, a group of investors who hoped to profit from the venture. Chartered in 1606 by King James I, the company also supported English national goals of counterbalancing the expansion of other European nations abroad, seeking a northwest passage to the Orient, and converting the Virginia Indians to the Anglican religion.
The founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony, in Virginia in 1607 – 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in Massachusetts – sparked a series of cultural encounters that helped shape the nation and the world. The government, language, customs, beliefs and aspirations of these early Virginians are all part of the United States’ heritage today.
The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, a group of investors who hoped to profit from the venture. Chartered in 1606 by King James I, the company also supported English national goals of counterbalancing the expansion of other European nations abroad, seeking a northwest passage to the Orient, and converting the Virginia Indians to the Anglican religion.
Jamestown Prezi Presentation: Studying for a test? Absent from class? Go to the Prezi Presentation of the Jamestown colony for background information by clicking on the picture above!
The Virginia Company: English Settlements were funded by corporations-- not governments! The Virginia Company of London received a charter from England to colonize Jamestown! Click on the Image above to view the Virginia Charter, and the links below to get to additional primary sources! The Virginia Charter (Primary Source) |
Location, Location! Most would argue that the location chosen by the Jamestown colonists wasn't ideal. Would you want to live in a bug-infested swamp? Probably not.. You might catch Malaria! Despite the swampy-situation, settlers had a reason for choosing this location. Click the picture to navigate to our prezi presentation about location! Click here for additional information! |
Hardship in Virginia: There are 2 dates that we need to know about: 1607-1608 winter (freezing time), and the winter of 1608-1609 (Staring Time). These were the two harshest winters that the early colony experienced. Most of the first two groups (over 500 total) died during these 2 winters! Watch the video below for more information! |
The Powhatans: A lesson in Historical Accuracy: Historians learn about people who lived hundreds of years ago. Some of the people who historians study were preliterate (they did not have a written language). To study these cultures, historians must rely on artifacts and descriptions from outside observers (in the case of the Powhatans-- the Jamestown Settlers). The problem with this is that these "outside observers" sometimes had ulterior motives, were not reliable, or were unsympathetic to other cultures! Do you think that John Smith's description of the Powhatan Indians is accurate? CLICK HERE to read it for yourself! |
John Rolfe & His "Green Gold" The Jamestown colony needed money to survive because the Virginia Company Stockholders should not keep giving them money unless they made some in return! Luckily for them, in 1612 John Rolfe got tobacco seeds from the Caribbean Islands & planted it in Virginia! It was a cash crop: because it was grown to sell money! Tobacco changed the colony! Wealthy land owners set up large farms called plantations. People who owned these plantations were called planters. Colonists used tobacco to barter (trade) for items or pay off debt. Watch this video for more info! |
1619: The BIG year Remember the Acronym: Brides Ship Indentured & African Servants General Assembly Brides Ship: Virginia Company of London sent 90 young women from England as wives. Click here for more information Indentured & African Servants: Remember the difference... Indentured servants AGREE to work for a planter. Both worked on Tobacco Plantations. General Assembly: A new government was formed and Jamestown was chosen as the first meeting place. It had two branches: The Council & The House of Burgesses. Click here to learn about each! |
Reading Like a Historian: Did Pocahontas Save John Smith's life?
You've probably all seen the Disney movie Pocahontas, but is the story told in this 1995 movie historically accurate? In this lesson created by the Stanford Historical Group, we will be exploring primary and secondary sources to explore whether Pocahontas actually saved John Smith's life and the importance of historically accurate documents!
Our Central Historical Question: Did Pocahontas Really Save John Smith's life?
Click the picture on the right for the power point presentation!
Our Central Historical Question: Did Pocahontas Really Save John Smith's life?
Click the picture on the right for the power point presentation!
pocahontas_historical_accuracy.ppt | |
File Size: | 4522 kb |
File Type: | ppt |