Jamestown Colony (1607–1619): Key Figures, Economy, and Early Virginia

Flashcards cover the key people, economic and political structures, and early hardships of Jamestown (1607–1619).

Who granted permission to establish a colony in North America for the Virginia Company?

King James I

What role did John Smith play in Jamestown's early years?

He took leadership, organized the colony, and helped establish relations with the Powhatan.

Who introduced large-scale tobacco farming in Jamestown?

John Rolfe

Whom did John Rolfe marry that linked European and Native American communities?

Pocahontas

Who were the Powhatan?

An Indigenous tribe that aided settlers and taught them to grow crops such as corn and tobacco.

Why was the arrival of women in 1610 important for the Jamestown colony?

Their arrival allowed families to form, stabilizing the colony.

When did the first Africans arrive in the English colonies and in what status?

1619, as indentured servants; marking the beginning of African presence.

What economic mechanism allowed the colony to be formed and funded by the Crown?

A royal charter granted to a company (the Virginia Company) to establish the colony.

Which crop became Jamestown's cash crop and required more labor?

Tobacco

What type of labor supported tobacco farming, and how did it change over time?

Indentured servants initially; later enslaved labor became more common.

What was the first representative government in what would become the United States?

The House of Burgesses

What were some early struggles in Jamestown, and how many settlers survived the first winter?

Famine, disease, and conflict; only 38 of the original 104 settlers survived the first winter.

What was the 'Starving Time' and when did it occur?

1609–1610; only about 60 of 500 settlers survived.

How did Jamestown evolve into a stable colony despite hardships?

Through agricultural development (notably tobacco) and improved relations with Native Americans.

What does the note 'Men came for gold' suggest about the colony's early motives?

Initial motivation was to seek profit (gold) rather than immediate survival.

What principle did John Smith emphasize to enforce labor in the colony?

A work ethic—'If you don't work, you don't eat'.