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The English Colonies on the Chesapeake Bay

Learn about the early English colonies on the Chesapeake Bay, including the mysterious fate of the Lost Colony of Roanoke and the struggles and successes of Jamestown. Explore the interactions with Native American tribes, the establishment of the Virginia Company, and the challenges faced by the settlers. Understand the importance of tobacco plantations and the role of indentured servants in shaping the colonies.

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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. 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

  4. John White’s View of Roanoake

  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 first • If they survived, could buy their own land • Rough equality existed despite attempts to enforce social distinctions

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