Early English settlements - Jamestown

Summary

In 1607, the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company, received a charter from King James I to explore the New World, seeking gold and a passage to the Indies. They established a colony at Jamestown on the James River, despite the poor soil and mosquito-borne diseases. The colonists, mostly gentlemen unprepared for manual labor, focused on finding gold rather than planting crops, leading to a harsh winter and a challenging start for the settlement.

Takeaways

• 🏴‍☠️ The English colony at Roanoke Island failed and is known as the Lost Colony.
• 🚢 In 1607, the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company, received a charter for New World exploration from King James I.
• 🌟 The company's goals were to find gold and a passage to the Indies for easier access to luxury goods.
• 👑 King James I hoped to outperform the Spanish, who had been successful in the West Indies for over a century.
• 🤑 The Virginia Company expedition was expected to be short-term, with the aim of returning to Europe wealthy.
• 🛳️ The colonists sailed into the Chesapeake Bay and chose a site on the James River, naming it Jamestown.
• 🐜 The land at Jamestown was poor for agriculture and plagued by disease-carrying mosquitoes.
• 😱 The colonists were unprepared and unsuited for life in the New World, focusing more on finding gold than on survival.
• 🌾 The colonists neglected to plant crops, which led to dire circumstances during the winter.
• 📖 Further details about the hardships faced by the Jamestown colonists will be discussed in the next video.

Q & A

What was the fate of the English colony at Roanoke Island?

The English colony at Roanoke Island was short-lived and highly unsuccessful, disappearing without a trace, and is still known as the Lost Colony.

Why did England not have a successful New World colony as late as 1585?

As late as 1585, England had not successfully established a New World colony due to the failure of the Roanoke Island colony.

What was the Virginia Company and what was its role in the colonization of the New World?

The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company and an early precursor to the modern corporation, which spread out the shares, wealth, and risk of an expedition to the New World. It received a charter for New World exploration from King James I.

What were the primary goals of the Virginia Company's expedition to the New World?

The primary goals of the Virginia Company's expedition were to find gold, discover a passage to the Indies to facilitate the acquisition of luxurious materials like spices and silk, and to outdo the Spanish in the West Indies.

What was King James I's particular hope for the Virginia Company's expedition?

King James I hoped that the Virginia Company's expedition could outperform the Spanish, who had been successful in the West Indies for over a century.

What was the initial expectation of the colonists who went to Virginia?

The colonists expected to go to Virginia for a couple of years, mine for gold, become wealthy, and then return to Europe to live like kings.

Why was the Virginia Company expedition intended to be short-term?

The Virginia Company expedition was intended to be short-term because the colonists planned to mine for gold, get wealthy quickly, and then return to Europe.

Where did the Virginia Company choose to settle in the New World and why was this location problematic?

The Virginia Company chose to settle on the James River, naming the town Jamestown. The location was problematic because the soil was marshy and not suitable for growing crops, and the area was infested with mosquitoes carrying diseases like yellow fever and malaria.

How were the colonists at Jamestown unprepared and unsuited for life in the New World?

The colonists at Jamestown were mostly gentlemen who were not accustomed to manual labor. They were more focused on looking for gold than on planting crops for survival, which led to dire conditions during the winter.

What were the consequences of the colonists' lack of preparation at Jamestown?

The lack of preparation led to a high death toll due to disease and starvation, as the colonists did not plant sufficient crops and were unprepared for the harsh conditions of the New World.