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Jamestown
Settled in 1607, Jamestown was the first successful settlement founded by the Europeans in the New World. Although eventually creating success with the trade of goods and becoming a well to do colony, the early years of Jamestown were filled with many hardships . -
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Deadly Winter
During the winter of 1609-1610, Jamestown suffered a massive loss. Between the harsh weather, lost supply shipments, and poor relations with the Natives, everything led to a time of pure starvation. Although drastic and horrid measures were taken to stay alive, only 60 of the original settlers survived the winter. -
A Profitable Weed
In 1617, Jamestown sent a shipment to England that would change their dire situation. One of the crops that had flourished in the environment of Jamestown was tobacco. This plant was so successful and profitable that it encouraged trade and colonization, hence saving the settlement of Jamestown. -
The House of Burgesses
A body of representatives was established by the Virginia Company in 1619. However, these representatives only consisted of white landowning men. -
Continuing Tensions
In 1622, the leader of the Powhatan Confederacy, Powhatan himself, died. Leadership then passed to his brother, Opechancanough. Times were not peaceful between the colonist and the Natives, as the colonist were taking over the Native's land. Opechancanough made the promise to drive the colonist out and on March 22nd, he attempted to come through on that promise. He attacked and massacred over 350 colonist. -
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The Pequot War
The Pequot War was a result of trade conflicts between the Pequot tribe and newly settling Europeans. While the Pequot's had controlled the trade of the land, which consisted of mostly furs, the settlers continued to encroach on these trades. This became the source of murders of tradesmen on both sides and eventually all out war. The English won the war, and many of the surviving members of the Pequot tribe were sold into slavery. -
Navigation Act of 1651
This act, put in place by England, sought to relate the American colonies as closely to England as possible. It encouraged trade be sent directly to England, which cut off other trade routes by competing European nations. This act was primarily directed towards interfering with Dutch trades. -
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Distinguishing Race
The 1660s provided a gateway to the horrors of slavery and racial separation. Laws were passed that granted the legality of the enslavement of people descendent from Africa. This led into many issues throughout history. -
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Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was a messy ordeal from start to finish, but it truly demonstrates the tensions between not only the colonists and the Natives, but the colonists with themselves. Beginning with the alleged "theft" of a colonist's pigs by the Doeg people, which were really taken to repay a debt, the Rebellion consisted of one escalation after another. This resulted in the conflict between Barkley and Bacon, the former wanting to take defense, and the latter wanting to fight back.