Exploring the Americas:

A competition ensues

DO NOW:• You are starting a new

colony. Create 5-10 rules/laws that all colonists will follow:

Early Colonies in the Americas:

• Colony- new settlement or territory established and governed by a country in another land.

• Spain• France• Netherlands (Dutch)• England

Motivations for Exploration

-Spain- “Gold, Glory and God” (Riches) (Spread Christianity)

-France- Economic motive of trading and trapping animal fur; Spread Christianity

-Dutch- Economic Rivals with French over fur trade; Set up busy port of New Amsterdam (New York)

- England- Both economic opportunity and Religious Freedom

• Why do you think Henry Hudson sailed for two different countries?

England’s first three settlements:

•Roanoke• Jamestown•Plymouth

Roanoke (1585)• Located in present day North Carolina• First English Colony • Settlers arrived seeking gold• Early problems included:

o Lack of supplieso Quarrels with Native Americanso Possible Drought

• John White, governor of the colony, went back to England for food and supplies. When he returned 3 years later, all of the colonists were gone.

• Upon arrival, John White saw the word “CROTOAN” carved into a tree.

• Mystery still remains today what happened to the colonists.

Jamestown (1607)• First permanent English settlement; located in

Virginia• Virginia Company was given a charter (legal

document giving rights to a person or company) to start colony.

• Representative Government set up where voters elect representatives to make laws.

• English having Political rights dated back to the Magna Carta of 1215. At that time, the King could not raise taxes unless consulting the Council of Nobles. The King had to follow the law.

• In England, representatives assembled in the Parliament which was made up of the House of Lords and House of Commons

Jamestown (1607)• In Virginia free, male property owners could vote.• Who could not vote- women, slaves, non-property

owners, Natives Americans.• House of Burgesses- Male settlers were allowed

to elect burgesses, or representatives to the assembly

• Jamestown had very tough times in the beginning of the colony, and the early years were very challenging.o There was an outbreak of malaria.o There was starvation- the colonists did not plant enough

crops. Settlers were too focused on trying to find gold.o The winter of 1609-1610 was known as The Starving

Time in which only 60 colonists of 214 survived.

Jamestown (1607)• Better days ahead…• John Smith- a strong leader emerged who was a soldier and

explorer. He set up strict rules and forced the colonists to work. He also set up trade relations with Powhatan, an Indian Chief.

• Pocahontas, Powhatan’s daughter helped Jamestown survive by bringing peace between the colonists and her people.• Finally, Jamestown’s economy improves due to the growing of tobacco.

Plymouth (1620)• The English settlers who arrived in Plymouth were the

“Pilgrims” and they came for Religious Freedomo In England, you had to be a part of Church of England, also

known as the Anglican Church.o If you did not follow the Church, you could be fined, jailed and

even executed.

• The Pilgrims board the Mayflower and land in present day Cape Cod, MA

• On Board, the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Compact- which was an agreement for ruling the Plymouth Colony, signed by 41 men.

• The Pilgrims faced early hardships, cold winters, starvation and diseases. Half of the settlers died during the first winter

Plymouth (1620)• The Pilgrims received help from neighboring

Native Americans. Squanto, part of the Wampanoag Indians, brought seeds to the Pilgrims for pumpkins, corn and beans, and showed them how to plant them.

• The Pilgrims had a great harvest in the fall, and celebrated the first Thanksgiving.