J. Kelly Robison

Settlement of the Chesapeake

 
I.         Joint-Stock Companies
            A.        Formed by London merchants to finance colonization
            B.        English monarchy could not finance colonization
                        1.         Conflict with Parliament
                        2.         Little money
II.        The Settlement of Jamestown
            A.        Settled by employees of the London Company (1607)
            B.        Came seeking wealth
                        1.         Most were young adventurers, goldsmiths, etc.
                        2.         Cold do little meaningful work
            C.        Starving time (1607 - 1612)
                        1.         Starvation and disease take toll on colonists
                        2.         Evolves into a military garrison for survival
                                    a.         John Smith takes command, forcing men to farm
                                    b.         Future governors use Smith’s example
            D.        Reorganization of the Colony (1618)
                        1.         London Company offers free land to colonists (HeadRight System)
                        2.         Representative Government
                                    a.         Some self-rule through House of Burgesses
                        3.         Virginia Becomes Royal Colony under Crown control (1624)
III.       The Virginia Economy
            A.        Based on Tobacco (“Founded Upon Smoke”)
                        1.         Spanish seeds brought to Virginia by John Rolfe
                        2.         More colonists arrive to cash in on tobacco boom
            B.        Tobacco cultivation gives rise to Planter Class
                        1.         Few women until 1618
                        2.         Sought wealthier men as husbands
IV.      English Relations with Natives
            A.        The Powhatan Confederacy
                        1.         30 tribes, 14,000 people controlled by Wahunssonacock (Powhatan)
                        2.         Relations tense
                                    a.         John Smith used diplomacy
                                    b.         Future governors did not - create strife
                                    c.         Marriage of alliance between Matoaka (Pocahontas) and John Rolfe
            B.        The Powhatan Wars
                        1.         Opechancanough, brother of Wahunssonacock, controls Confederacy after 1622
                                    a.         Dislikes English
                        2.         1622 - attack almost wipes out Jamestown colonists
                                    a.         English now no longer try diplomacy
                        3.         1644 - last gasp of the Chesapeake tribes
                                    a.         Massacre leaves 500 English dead
                                    b.         Powhatan Empire destroyed
V.        Maryland
            A.        Proprietary Colony
                        1.         Given as grant to George Calvert (Lord Baltimore)
                        2.         Sanctuary for English Catholics
                        3.         Government almost feudal in nature
            B.        Nature of Maryland politics and Society
                        1.         Immigration is mostly Protestant
                                    a.         Gradually put Catholics in Minority
                                    b.         Assume control of colony after 1642
                        2.         Proprieters attempt to maintain complete political control
                                    a.         Assembly set up by charter gradually assumes more control
                                    b.         Has a governor

Identification Terms:

Study Questions:

Examine early Jamestown settlement. What were the successes and failures? Why did these occur?

Discuss the relationship between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy. What did each side hope to gain from the other? Why was there animosity in the relationship?

quiz

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