Jamestown, Virginia
History: KS3, topic 6.2.2
Jamestown, Virginia
Britain came to control thirteen colonies along the east coast of North America. Jamestown was the first permanent and successful English settlement.
The Virginia Company
- In England in 1606, a joint stock company was set up called The Virginia Company.
- A joint stock company was a group of people who came together to invest in something to share the risks and rewards.
- The Virginia Company hoped to establish the first permanent English settlement in America.
Company structure
- It was made up of:
- Investors.
- Wealthy people who could stay in England and wait for their company to return a profit.
- Planters (also known as indentured servants).
- These were people with little money who would provide labour for the Company in return for housing, food and eventually some land.
Jamestown
- The Virginia Company established their settlement at Jamestown in 1607 - the first permanent English settlement.
- The English settlers set up tobacco plantations (farms), and exported tobacco back to England for huge profits.
Test yourself on Jamestown, Virginia
How many colonies did Britain come to control along the east coast of North America?
What was NOT something the Virginia Company hoped to achieve in North America?