Jamestown Notes-included on the History Test 10/8/2025

What was the primary reason for Spain's colonization of South America in the 1500s?

Spain sought to expand its empire and resources.

What delayed colonization efforts in North America?

Religious and political turmoil in England and France.

What happened to the Roanoke colony established in 1587?

The colony vanished, with only the word 'Croatoan' carved in wood as a clue.

What lesson was learned from the Roanoke colony's disappearance?

Colonies needed better planning and support.

When was Jamestown founded and where is it located?

Jamestown was founded on May 24, 1607, along the James River in Virginia.

What were some initial problems faced by the Jamestown settlers?

Disease, starvation, and Native American raids.

What was the 'Starving Time' in Jamestown?

A period from 1609 to 1610 where only 60 of the 400 settlers survived due to unpreparedness.

Who was John Smith and what was his contribution to Jamestown?

John Smith provided leadership and established the motto 'He that does not work, does not eat.'

What role did Lord De La Warr play in Jamestown?

He imposed military discipline and led brutal tactics against the Powhatan tribes.

What was the significance of the tobacco economy in Virginia?

Tobacco became Virginia's cash crop, leading to economic boom and increased settlement.

What was the Headright System and its purpose?

It granted land to new settlers to encourage migration, offering 50 acres for newcomers and 100 acres for existing settlers.

What was the House of Burgesses?

The first elected assembly in America, marking the beginning of representative democracy.

What were 'tobacco wives' and how were they brought to Virginia?

Women sent to the colony in 1619, purchased with tobacco to incentivize settlement.

What shift occurred in labor practices in Virginia by the late 1600s?

A shift from indentured servitude to African slavery, which became permanent and hereditary.

What were the '3 D's' that led to the decline of the Powhatan tribes?

Disease, Disorganization, and Disposability.

What was the purpose of founding Maryland in 1634?

To serve as a refuge for Catholics and to profit from tobacco.

What did the Act of Toleration (1649) in Maryland accomplish?

It granted religious freedom to all Christians.

What were the causes of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676?

Falling tobacco prices, frustrations of landless freemen, and Governor Berkeley's corruption.

What was the outcome of Bacon's Rebellion?

It led to the burning of Jamestown and accelerated the shift from indentured servitude to slavery.