England was different from the other countries because the King and Queen had limited power

Spain and Portugal was focused on South America

France and England on North America

England begins establishing colonies in North America in the late 1500’s

Colonies provided England with new raw materials

England tried to establish colonies 2x in the 1580’s on Roanoke IslandOff the coast of North Carolina

Failed both times

The second time is a great mystery in 1587 because nobody knows what happened to the explorers

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071105234126/genealogy/images/thumb/b/b2/Map_showing_location_of_Jamestown_and_Roanoke_Island_Colonies.PNG/500px-Map_showing_location_of_Jamestown_and_Roanoke_Island_Colonies.PNG

Jamestown

A group of wealthy people in 1606 set sail in hopes of establishing English colonies in North America.

Formed the Virginia Company of London

King James I financed the voyage

105 men were aboard these three ships

Arrived in April, 1607 and established the colony

England’s first settlement in North America

2/3 die within the first year

1. Find Gold

2. Spread Religion

3. Establish Colonies for England

4. Find a passage to the Pacific Ocean

5. Overcrowding in Europe

No experience farming

Spent time looking for gold (found none)

Thought the Native Americans were going to feed them

Sent from England in the fall, 1608

“He who works not, eats not”

Raided Indian villages for food

Smith is injured and returns to England

Relationship with Natives declined after that

Winter of 1609-1610 was the starving time because the Natives stop supplying food to the English

England did not give up on JamestownContinued sending colonistsOffered them free land

Begin growing tobaccoNative to the landDependable source of incomeBecomes very popular

House of BurgessesRepresentative government-voters elect people

to make laws for them

Pass laws and set taxes

Worked with the appointed governor

Marked the start of representative government in North America

Began arriving in 1619

Indentured servants at first

Not until last part of the 1600’s did permanent slavery in Virginia start