Important
People
People
Who was the leader of the Powhatan chiefdom when the English arrived?
Chief Powhatan
In what year was Jamestown founded?
1607
Name one major problem the Jamestown settlers faced.
Disease, hunger, unsafe drinking water, conflict, or lack of food.
What crop became Jamestown's main source of profit?
Tobacco
What were the ships called that brought women to Jamestown in 1620?
The Bride Ships
Who was the daughter of Chief Powhatan who became an important historical figure in Jamestown?
Pocahontas
What country established the Jamestown settlement?
England
Why was the water around Jamestown often unsafe to drink?
Marshy, brackish (salty), and could be contaminated.
What is a cash crop?
A crop grown primarily to sell for profit.
What materials were the settlers expecting to find when they arrived in Jamestown?
Gold and silver
Who introduced a profitable variety of tobacco to Virginia?
What company funded the settlement of Jamestown?
The Virginia Company of London
Why did many early colonists struggle to grow enough food?
Many focused on searching for wealth, lacked farming experience, and faced difficult conditions.
Why was tobacco important to Jamestown's success?
It created a profitable export and helped the colony grow.
What is a "charter?" Describe in your own words.
A document that grants authority or rights to a group of people.
Who was the leader who helped Jamestown survive by enforcing the rule that colonists had to work to eat?
Captain John Smith
What was the main goal of the Virginia Company in establishing Jamestown?
Wealth, power, to make a profit for its investors
Women were needed to help start families.
What was an indentured servant?
Someone who agreed to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage or other benefits.
Who were the first elected representatives in America?
Burgesses
Who was the English king for whom Jamestown was named?
King James I
Why did the settlers choose a location along the James River?
It offered access for ships, deep water for anchoring, and a defendable location.
How did relations with the Powhatan people affect Jamestown's survival?
Trade and assistance sometimes provided food, while conflict and warfare threatened survival.
How did the growth of tobacco farming affect labor in Virginia?
It increased demand for labor, contributing to the expansion of indentured servitude and, over time, racial slavery.
What is one major difference between Jamestown and Plymouth?
Jamestown was founded in 1607 largely for economic reasons; Plymouth was founded in 1620 by Separatists seeking religious community and opportunity.