Jamestown and the Southern Colonies
Leading up to Colonization
Prior to development of an English colony in North America, the Spanish, French, and Dutch had already crossed the Atlantic Ocean and explored the New World. These explorations created a demand for new products and competition for more land. In addition, several groups fled Europe in search of religious freedom. In this interactivity, learn what caused the Europeans to begin preparations for building permanent settlements in the New World. Click the player button to begin.
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As you explore this topic, fill out the Quick Facts about the Colonies Template to help you organize your ideas. You will need to reference this document again in the module assessment.
The Jamestown Settlement
The first permanent English settlement in North America was founded at Jamestown in 1607. At this time, North America already had colonies created by both the Portuguese and Spanish. England chose to locate its settlement in Virginia. Did you know the first attempt at an English settlement failed? The inhabitants of Roanoke Island vanished. It seems that the early colonists either starved or were attacked by American Indians, also referred to as Native Americans. In this interactivity, explore the history behind America's first settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. Click the player button to begin.
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Discovering Jamestown
Are you confused about the ways in which the English established the first permanent settlement in North America? View Discovering Jamestown: Legacy from eMediaVASM. As you watch the video, think about the following questions:
- What was the original intention of the English settlement at Jamestown?
- Why did the colonists pick the location of the James River for the settlement?
- What problems plagued the early colonists and how were those problems remedied?
- How did Africans become part of the labor force at Jamestown?
Southern Society
In Virginia and other Southern colonies, the social structure was oriented around family and the ownership of land. The more land your family owned, the greater your social stature. Since most large landowners were found in the eastern lowlands, those families tended to dominate colonial government. Many of these powerful Southern families maintained an allegiance to the Church of England, which meant they had a stronger social connection to Britain than other colonists.
Life in the Southern colonies revolved around plantations or small farms. Plantations were estates on which crops such as tobacco, indigo, and rice were produced. Plantations took the place of towns and were self-sufficient. A woman’s role in the southern society was limited to domestic work. Indentured servants and slave labor were used to complete the harsh and demanding labor. In this interactivity, learn about Southern society during colonial times. Click the player button to begin.
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Slavery in the Southern Colonies
During the colonial time period, mercantilism was promoted by the countries that were developing colonies. Mercantilism was an economic practice based on trade where the purpose of European colonies was to send goods to and buy products from the mother country in ways that benefited the mother country. This system led to a trade network that created interdependence between the mother country and its colonies.
This trade network created a demand for crops grown in the Southern colonies, which also increased the need for a large labor force. However, indentured servants were becoming too expensive and there were not enough of them. To increase their labor force, Southern colonists acquired the labor of enslaved Africans. African slaves were already being used in the West Indies. Slavery was first introduced to America in 1619 when enslaved Africans were transported to Jamestown. In this interactivity, you will investigate the evolution of slavery of the Southern colonies. Click the player button to begin.
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Nat Turner Rebellion
Slaves were treated unjustly and subjected to harsh living conditions. Throughout the Southern colonies, plantation owners reported the resistance of slaves. Pushed too far, some slaves revolted. The revolts led to the deaths of some white plantation owners and their families. One slave revolt occurred in Southampton County, Virginia. Led by Nat Turner, slaves murdered 55 to 65 people. This was the highest number of casualties in any slave revolt. View Nat Turner Rebellion from eMediaVASM to learn more about this rebellion.
Jamestown and the Southern Colonies Review
Now that you have learned about Jamestown and the Southern colonies, it is time to check your knowledge. In this non-graded activity, answer all of the questions by following the directions on each question slide. Click the player button to get started.