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Powhatan’s Fatal Mistake: The Rough Beginning of a Country

Explore the tense relations and culture clashes between Powhatan's tribes and the colonists, including the captivating story of Pocahontas and her controversial decisions. Discover how disease, disorganization, and disposability shaped the early days of the Virginia Colony. Learn about the impact of tobacco cultivation, mercantilism, and the royal crown's struggle for power. Dive into the rebellions and civil unrest that paved the way for independence, and uncover the role of the slave trade in the colony's labor force.

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Powhatan’s Fatal Mistake: The Rough Beginning of a Country

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  1. In Country A Rough Beginning

  2. Powhatan’s decision…..fatal mistake? • Leader of a small, loosely affiliated group of tribes • Saw opportunity with colonists • Relations tense, especially during starving times • Culture clashes

  3. Pocahontas • 1607 John Smith captured • First encounter with Pocahontas • Beginning of a legend • Daughter of Powhatan • Gifted with language from early age • Prisoner of colonial family, initially rejects English traditions • Used as a pawn to gain supplies

  4. Cont… • John Rolfe sees opportunity, marries Pocahontas • Short term peace established • Controversy about her decisions…..did she abandon her people? • Died in England

  5. 3 D’s, With a twist • Disease, disorganization, and now disposability • Once Virginians able to grow own crops, less interest in PR • Now a barrier to coveted land

  6. The Bewitching Weed • Tobacco: first cash crop • Required as much land as possible to be cleared • Scramble to control as much to grow more • Joint stock companies such as Virginia Company of London took advantage

  7. Difficult Beginning • access of land, in-fighting, high rates of mortality, not enough to work the land • form of martial law implemented • Representative assembly… 1619: House of Burgesses • Soon Tobacco boom having a positive impact…..on some

  8. Mercantilism • How would the crown establish the most power and money? • Colonists provide raw materials….England produces goods….colonies buy goods….all monies made go to the crown • James I saw this as a good and prosperous plan

  9. Royal Crown in Disarray • Attempt at absolute power by both James I and his son Charles I • This backfires when in need of military support against the Scots • Short-time England was under military rule with Oliver Cromwell • Charles II came to power to try and reign it all back in • Enacted laws and regulations with substantial impact on the colonies

  10. Cont…. • Prior to Charles II the colonies enjoyed a great deal of freedom in trade and the ability to grow its economy • Navigation Acts: 1660 • In the end, bad decision on the part of England

  11. Let The Rebellions Begin • The Players: • William Berkeley: • Governor of Virginia • Loyal to the King • Respected by fellow Virginians with clout • Nathaniel Bacon • Young, intelligent, wealthy • Sent to Virginia to “grow up” • Plans to make it big with Indian Trading

  12. Cont…. • Problem: How to respond to Native disturbances? • Berkeley: Hold steady, build forts for protection • Bacon: Be aggressive, meet them on their territory • Led several unauthorized attacks • Jamestown residents divided • Chaos begins

  13. Cont…. • Struggle shifts from external to internal • The battle nearly brings Jamestown to ruins in 1676 • Do we see the quest for independence beginning, or personal rivalry and greed?

  14. Civilized Rebellion • Maryland sees internal struggle as well • Money, and advantages in the hands of a few: the Calvert family • Religion enters in the conflict now • John Coode led a more diplomatic form of rebellion • Outcome: Calvert power reduced, destruction of city absent

  15. Labor Force Wanted • Benefits and logic behind the slave trade (according to the colonists) • Mortality rates slowing down • indentured servants paying off their debts and able to earn their freedom • Slaves viewed as a better investment

  16. Slave Trading Culture • Psychology of racism begins to be instilled • Poor white colonists now have someone below them • Uprisings reduced due to many barriers • Language • Lack of knowledge of landscape • Rigid laws enacted

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