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The English Colonies on the Chesapeake Bay

The English Colonies on the Chesapeake Bay. American History I. Roanoke: The Lost Colony. Sir Walter Raleigh wanted bases for raids on Spanish Garrison of 100 soldiers est. in 1585 under Ralph Lane Explored region, including Chesapeake bay

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The English Colonies on the Chesapeake Bay

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  1. The English Colonies on the Chesapeake Bay American History I

  2. Roanoke: The Lost Colony • Sir Walter Raleigh wanted bases for raids on Spanish • Garrison of 100 soldiers est. in 1585 under Ralph Lane • Explored region, including Chesapeake bay • Hostilities with Secotans convinced them to leave in 1586 with Drake’s fleet • 117 colonists arrived in 1587, led by John White • White returned to England to get supplies • Attack of the Spanish Armada left England unable to resupply colony for 3 years • Found colony abandoned in 1590 Sir Walter Raleigh

  3. John White’s View of Roanoake

  4. The Fate of the Lost Colonists • Colonists moved away from Roanoke for safety • Small group went to Croatoan Island • Most settled 50 miles inland with Chowanocs • Powhatans slaughtered survivors shortly after English arrived • Priest warned Wahunsonacock of dream that English would destroy his empire • Feared survivors would help English ally with his enemies

  5. Founding the Virginia Company • King James I allowed gentry investors to try new colonial ventures • Richard Hakluyt argued colonies would provide: • Outlet for surplus labor • Market for English textiles • Opportunity to convert natives • Virginia Co. organized in 1606 • Investors hoped to get rich quick off of some commodity unavailable in England (e.g., gold or silver) King James I (1603-25)

  6. Virginia: The Early Years • 1st 3 ships arrived in April 1607 with 104 passengers • Built Jamestown in the middle of a malarial swamp • 4 out of every 5 died • Malnutrition (pellagra) caused lethargy & indifference • By 1610, agreed to abandon colony, but Gov. De La Warre & 300 new colonists met them at the mouth of the river & forced them to go back

  7. Tsenacommacah: the Powhatan Chiefdom • Confederation of Algonquian tribes • 15,000 people living in several hundred villages, ruled by werowances • Stretched from south of James River to Potomac River, and bay to falls • Wahunsonacock tried to incorporate English into confederation • Sparing John Smith’s life may have been adoption ritual • Pocahontas married John Rolfe in 1613 to seal alliance • Opechancanough led surprise assault in 1622 – almost wiped out the colony A Powhatan Village

  8. Pocahontas as Rebecca Rolfe

  9. The Virginia Company Fails • Sir Edwyn Sandys introduces 2 innovations in 1618: • Headright system: one would receive 50 acres of land for each person whose passage to Virginia one paid • House of Burgesses: 1st elected legislature in America (met for 1st time on July 30, 1619) • 1622 war prompted royal investigation • Uncovered widespread corruption • Virginia Co. charter revoked in 1624 • Virginia became a royal colony in 1624 • Crown appointed governor, who selected Council • House of Burgesses remained as elected lower house • Death rate remained appallingly high until 1640

  10. The Founding of Maryland • Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore received charter from King Charles I in 1632 • Wanted haven for fellow Catholics • Granted toleration to all Christians • Gov. Leonard Calvert arrived with 300 colonists in 1634 • Legislature clashed with proprietor repeatedly • Attempt to recreate manor system failed – few willing to rent when land was so cheap & plentiful

  11. Tobacco Plantations • John Rolfe developed right blend in 1614, but first crop not exported until 1617 • King James condemned “noxious weed” as unhealthy but wanted tax revenue • Annual exports soared from 20,000 lbs. in 1620 to 38 million by 1700 • Prices declined steadily after initial boom, but . . . • Until 1680, increased productivity offset declining prices

  12. Land and Labor • Chesapeake farmers followed Indian practices because best use of resources: • Girdled trees – didn’t clear or plow land • planted corn & tobacco in hills • After 3 years of tobacco and 3 of corn, had to let field lie fallow for 20 years • Cattle & pigs grazed freely on range • Indentured servants flocked there at 1st • If they survived, could buy their own land • Rough equality existed despite attempts to enforce social distinctions

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