The Jamestown Settlement

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In the spring of 1607, settlers from England established the first permanent English settlement in North America. The settlement was located in Jamestown, present-day Virginia. Jamestown holds significance in American history because it was the first permanent settlement and established the first government in North America. It laid the foundations for what would become the United States of America.

The Motive

In 1606, England began looking for ways to expand its wealth and power.

Spain and France had already succeeded in establishing settlements in the Americas, and the English government decided to commission a team to see if they could find fortune in the new world.

The king issued a charter — a document, written by a sovereign power that defines rights for a group of people — to the Virginia Company of London, permitting them to establish a settlement in North America, and equipping the settlers with the same rights as Englishmen.

In December 1606, about 100 men set sail on a several-month journey for North America, hoping to find gold and raw materials that could be produced in the Americas and sold in England.

The Mission

Historians are uncertain exactly when the English settlers arrived at Jamestown, but it is believed they arrived in April or May 1607. The settlers had several reasons for establishing their fort along the banks of the James River.

The water was deep enough for the ships to dock. The river also provided fresh water and food. Finally, it was far enough inland that the settlers did not have to worry too much about attacks from the Spanish.

While the area initially appeared ideal for establishing a home, it soon proved too good to be true.

The Misery

It is a miracle that the Jamestown colony survived the first year. The James River provided fresh water to the settlers and a breeding ground for mosquitos. Many settlers died from malaria, a disease carried by mosquitos.

Those who did not die from mosquito-borne illnesses risked death from the Native Americans and starvation. The Powhatan Indians, who had resided along the James River for centuries, feared the settlers and attacked those who ventured outside the fort.

The winter was a particularly trying time for the settlers, and many died from starvation. The settlers did not come to the new world equipped with farming and hunting skills. Food was so scarce that many historians believe the settlers resorted to cannibalism.

During the winter of 1607-1608, also known as the starving time, more than half of the settlers died.

The Miracle

The likelihood of the Jamestown colony surviving seemed unlikely. Then, in 1608, Captain John Smith arrived at Jamestown, and life at the colony began to improve. Smith became the leader of Jamestown and worked to build positive relationships with the Native Americans.

The Powhatans taught the settlers to plant crops and hunt for food. They also began trading food for English goods. Once the colonists were taught to grow and hunt food, Smith instituted a policy stating that anyone who did not help with the work would not eat.

The settlers never found gold at Jamestown, but they did learn to grow tobacco. Tobacco became highly valued in England and helped the English colony to generate substantial profits.

By the time John Smith went home to England in 1609, Jamestown looked completely different from when he had arrived a year earlier.

The Milestone

Jamestown is significant because, as the first permanent English settlement, it was the first settlement in what would eventually become the United States. The Jamestown settlement also established the first government in North America.

In 1619, the Virginia Company of London permitted the settlement to set up its government. At the time, there were 11 small communities around Jamestown. Each community selected two men to represent them in creating laws for the settlement.

This lawmaking group was known as the House of Burgesses and was the first glimpse of democracy — a system of government where the people elect their representatives — in the new world.

Explore the resources below to learn more about the first year at Jamestown.

• Jamestown: First English Colony in America
• Map of Discoveries

When you are ready, journey to the Got It? section for a deeper look into what you have learned so far and the settlement of Jamestown itself!