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Colonial Virginia: Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful english colony. Early on, Jamestown settlers encountered starvation and lack of leadership. They didn't find gold, but the cash crop of tobacco helped them financially. The House of Burgesses was a legislative body by the Virginia Company, being the first self-government in the New World. -
Development of Slavery
Initially, tobacco farmers relied on indentured servants to help them cultivate their crops. As there became less of them, tobacco farmers began to import African Americans to work as slaves. Later the slaves began to resist the dehumanizing aspects of slavery by rebellion, sabotage, and escaping. -
Mayflower Compact
This was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims arrived at New England via the Mayflower ship, seeking religious freedom. -
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson spoke out against the emphasis on church attendance in favor of individual bible studies. She was put on trial and then later sent off to Rhode Island. -
Dutch Colonization
The Dutch colonized New Amsterdam to engage in commerce. It was unique because it was religiously and ethically diverse. The English captured New Ampsterdam because it was successful as a commercial port city. (the fur trades). In 1664 it became known as New York. -
Bacon's Rebellion
In 1675, Virginia planters asked Governor Berkley for help on exterminating all of the colonies Native Americans, he refused. Nathanial Bacons took matters into his own hands and began slaughtering Natives. He also marched into Jamestown and drove out the governor. They eventually lost power after Bacons sudden death. -
Establishing Pennsylvania
In the 1600s, William Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania. It became a safe haven for the religious group, Quakers. Pennsylvania used agriculture and trade to make money, since it had rich farmlands and rivers. It was similar to Rhode Island, which was also a religious safe haven.
