Chapter 3 Study Guide: Early Virginia and Jamestown

A comprehensive vocabulary review covering early Virginia colonization, Jamestown's founding, governance, hardships, key historical figures, and interactions with Native Americans.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in British North America, founded in 1607 on a narrow peninsula bordered on three sides by the James River as an economic venture.

Virginia Company of London

The group of stockholders who financed the settlement of Jamestown as primarily an economic venture.

Virginia Charters

Documents granted by the King of England that established a settlement in North America, defined the physical boundaries of the colony, and extended English rights to the settlers.

Reasons for English Colonization

To increase wealth and power, find silver and gold in America, and establish an American settlement to furnish raw materials while opening new markets for trade.

Jamestown Site Selection Factors

English instructions to go inland, a location easily defended from Spanish sea attacks, water deep enough for ships to dock, and the belief that the site had a good supply of fresh water.

General Assembly (1619)

A meeting called by the governor of Virginia consisting of the governor, the governor's Council, and two burgesses from each Virginia division meeting as one legislative body.

Burgesses

Two representatives elected from each Virginia division (limited at the time to certain free adult men) giving settlers an opportunity to participate in controlling their own government.

House of Burgesses

A separate legislative body formed in the 1640s when the burgesses began meeting separately from the governor's Council as one of the two legislative bodies in the General Assembly.

Virginia General Assembly

The modern legislative body of Virginia that traces its roots directly back to the 1619 establishment of the General Assembly and its burgesses in Jamestown.

Arrival of Africans (1619)

The event in 1619 when Portuguese sailors brought African men and women from present-day Angola against their will, making it possible to expand Virginia's tobacco economy.

Arrival of English Women (1620)

The arrival of additional English women in 1620 that made it possible for more settlers to start families and establish Jamestown as a permanent colony.

Jamestown Hardships

Critical survival challenges faced by settlers: a marshy site lacking safe drinking water, drought reducing available food, a lack of necessary skills, and widespread starvation and disease.

Jamestown Survival Changes

Changes ensuring survival: arrival of supply ships with new settlers, Captain John Smith's forced work program, building settlements away from unhealthy environments, and an emphasis on agriculture.

Captain John Smith

English leader who instituted a forced work program to ensure colony survival and established trading relationships with the Powhatan Indians.

Chief Powhatan

Leader of many tribes who provided leadership to his people and taught the Jamestown settlers essential survival skills.

Pocahontas

The daughter of Chief Powhatan who served as an important contact between the native peoples and the English settlers.

Powhatan-English Trade Interactions

Exchanges in which the native peoples traded food, fur, and leather to the English in exchange for tools, pots, and copper for jewelry.

Native Peoples' View of English Settlers

The eventual perception developed by native peoples that the growing English settlements were invaders who would take over their land.