Jamestown, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestowne, Williamsburg
|
|
|---|---|
|
Fort (1607) and Town (1619)
|
|
.jpg)
The ruined tower of the 17th century Jamestown Church; the nave was reconstructed in 1907 on its original foundations
|
|
Location of Jamestown in Virginia
|
|
 Jamestown, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Colony | Colony of Virginia |
| Established | May 14, 1607 |
| Abandoned | Briefly in 1610; again after 1699 |
| Founded by | London Company |
| Named for | James I |
Jamestown, Virginia, was the very first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was founded by the London Company on May 14, 1607, on the James River in what is now Virginia. This settlement was a big step for England in exploring and settling the New World, even though earlier attempts, like the Roanoke Colony, had failed.
The early years at Jamestown were incredibly tough. Many settlers faced extreme hunger during a period known as the "Starving Time" in 1609-1610. Despite these challenges, the colony survived. In 1619, an important event happened when the first documented Africans arrived in English North America, brought against their will and forced to work. This marked the beginning of a complex and difficult chapter in American history.
Jamestown served as the capital of the Virginia colony from 1616 until 1699. It was even burned down during a conflict called Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, but it was rebuilt. Eventually, the capital moved to a new location, which became Williamsburg. Today, Jamestown is an important archaeological site where historians and archaeologists continue to uncover its secrets. It's part of the "Historic Triangle" of Colonial Virginia, along with Williamsburg and Yorktown, offering visitors a chance to learn about early American history.
Contents
Settlement
This section will cover the early days of Jamestown, from its founding to its growth and challenges.
1607–1609: The First Years
Before Jamestown, countries like Spain, Portugal, and France had already started colonies in the Americas. England was a bit slower, and their first attempts, like the Roanoke Colony, didn't last.
.png)
_(8426448355).jpg)
In 1606, English colonists set sail with a special permission, called a charter, from the London Company. Their goal was to start a new colony. They traveled on three ships: the Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed, all led by Captain Christopher Newport. After a long four-month journey, they landed in Virginia on April 26, 1607.
The colonists chose a spot on a large peninsula about 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. This location was good because the river channel was easy to defend, and the land was close enough for ships to dock. Interestingly, local Native American tribes had not settled there because they found the land too swampy and not good for farming. This meant the settlers faced challenges like mosquitoes and salty river water that wasn't good for drinking.
The settlers arrived during a severe drought, one of the worst in 700 years. This made it very hard to grow food and find fresh water. Many of the first colonists were gentlemen or their servants, not used to the hard work needed to build a new settlement. Despite these difficulties, they held their first known Anglican church service on June 21, 1607.
More supplies arrived in 1608, along with German and Polish craftsmen. These new arrivals helped the colony start making things like glassware, which became one of the first American products sent back to Europe. However, more people also meant more mouths to feed, adding to the colony's struggles. Captain John Smith, a leader in the colony, had to tell the investors in London that they needed more practical workers, not just gentlemen, to make the colony successful.
1609–1610: The Starving Time
After Captain John Smith was injured and had to return to England, the colony faced even greater hardship. The winter of 1609-1610 became known as the "Starving Time." The settlers ran out of food, and extreme hunger led to desperate measures for survival. Out of 214 settlers, only 60 survived this terrible period.
Meanwhile, a large supply fleet, including the flagship Sea Venture, was on its way from England. But a powerful hurricane struck the fleet, and the Sea Venture was shipwrecked on the reefs of Bermuda. All 214 people on board survived, including important leaders like Sir Thomas Gates and Captain Christopher Newport. They were stranded for nine months and built two new ships, the Deliverance and Patience, to continue their journey.
When the survivors from Bermuda finally reached Jamestown on May 23, 1610, they found the colony in ruins and many colonists near death. They decided to abandon Jamestown and sail for England. However, as they sailed down the James River, they met another relief fleet led by Governor Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr. This timely arrival, which the colonists called The Day of Providence, brought new supplies and settlers, saving Jamestown from being completely abandoned.
After Governor De La Warr arrived, relations with the local Powhatan tribes quickly worsened, leading to conflicts known as the Anglo-Powhatan Wars. Peace was eventually made after Samuel Argall captured Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Wahunsenacawh. Her father then agreed to a peace treaty.
1610–1624: Growing Stronger
The first few years of Jamestown were difficult due to the settlers' backgrounds, a long drought, and how they shared their work. But by 1613, things started to improve. The governor, Thomas Dale, began giving settlers their own plots of land, which encouraged them to work harder. This change, along with the end of the drought, helped the colony grow.
One important settler was John Rolfe, who brought new tobacco seeds. In 1614, he successfully grew tobacco, which became a very valuable crop for the colony. Rolfe married Pocahontas, which helped bring several years of peace between the English and the Native Americans. Sadly, Pocahontas became sick and died in England in 1617. Her father, Chief Powhatan, died the next year. His brother, Opechancanough, became the new leader of the Powhatan Confederacy. As the English took more land for tobacco farms, relations with the natives became tense again.
Many English people came to Jamestown as indentured servants. This meant they agreed to work for a few years in exchange for their travel to America, food, housing, and the promise of land or money later.
In 1619, a very important step towards self-governance happened: the first representative assembly in America, called the General Assembly, met in the Jamestown Church. This assembly was created to make fair laws for the people living in Virginia. At first, only men of English origin could vote. However, Polish craftsmen in Jamestown protested and refused to work until they were also allowed to vote. On July 21, 1619, they were granted equal voting rights, and the strike ended.
Also in August 1619, the first documented Africans arrived in English North America on a ship called the White Lion. These individuals, including a man named Antoney and a woman named Isabella, were brought against their will and forced to work. Their son, William Tucker, became the first documented African child baptized in British North America. Another early African, Angela, also worked in the settlement.
After years of uneasy peace, Chief Opechancanough and the Powhatan Confederacy launched a major attack on March 22, 1622. They attacked plantations and communities along the James River, killing over 300 settlers. Jamestown itself was saved because a Virginia Indian employee warned them in time. This event, known as the Indian massacre of 1622, showed the deep conflict between the settlers and the native tribes. By 1624, out of 6,000 people who had come to Jamestown since 1608, only 3,400 had survived.
1624–1699: The Capital Moves
In 1624, King James I took back the London Company's charter, and Virginia became a royal colony, directly controlled by the King. The colony continued to grow, and in 1634, it was divided into eight areas called "shires," similar to counties in England. Jamestown was in James City Shire, which is now James City County, Virginia, the oldest county in the nation.
Another large attack by Native Americans happened in 1644. In 1646, Chief Opechancanough was captured and killed while in custody. After his death, the Powhatan Confederacy began to weaken. New peace treaties were signed, requiring the Powhatan people to pay yearly tributes and live on reservations.
In 1676, during a conflict called Bacon's Rebellion, Jamestown was deliberately burned down. Although it was rebuilt, the Virginia government started meeting in other places. When the statehouse (where the government met) accidentally burned down again in 1698, the decision was made not to rebuild in Jamestown. Instead, the capital was permanently moved to a nearby community called Middle Plantation in 1699. This town was renamed Williamsburg to honor King William III.
What Happened After and How Jamestown is Preserved
After the capital moved to Williamsburg, Jamestown slowly became less important. The church was used until the 1750s, then it was abandoned. By the mid-18th century, the land was mostly used for farming.
During the American Civil War
During the American Civil War in 1861, Jamestown Island was used by Confederate soldiers to block the James River from the Union Navy. Later, Union forces captured the area. Jamestown then became a meeting place for runaway slaves, who burned an old plantation house. After the war, former Confederate soldiers took an oath of loyalty at Jamestown.
Protecting and Discovering Jamestown
.jpg)
After the Civil War, Jamestown became quiet again. In 1892, Edward Barney bought Jamestown and then donated 22.5 acres, including the ruined church tower, to a group called the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now Preservation Virginia). At this time, much of the original fort was thought to be underwater due to river erosion. A sea wall was built in 1900 to protect the land. Amazingly, the archaeological remains of the original 1607 fort were discovered in 1996, protected by that very sea wall!
In the 1930s, George Craghead Gregory discovered the foundation of the first brick statehouse. The National Park Service also acquired more of Jamestown Island in 1934 and partnered with Preservation Virginia to protect and educate visitors about the site. This area became part of the Colonial National Historical Park. Archaeologists like J.C. Harrington and John L. Cotter have done important work uncovering Jamestown's past.
Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the actual archaeological site where the original James Fort was built. In 1996, the Jamestown Rediscovery project began digging here, looking for the remains of the first settlement.
Visitors to Historic Jamestowne can see the site of the 1607 fort, the 17th-century church tower, and the remains of the old town. There's also an archaeological museum called the Archaearium, which displays many of the nearly two million artifacts found. You can often watch archaeologists at work, as discoveries are still being made and reported regularly.
Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement is a living-history museum located about 1.25 miles (2 km) from the original colony site. It was created for the 350th anniversary in 1957.
At Jamestown Settlement, you can explore a reconstructed Powhatan village, a replica of James Fort from around 1610-1614, and full-sized replicas of the three ships that brought the first settlers: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. It's a great place to experience what life might have been like in early Jamestown.
Remembering Jamestown: Anniversaries and Celebrations
Jamestown's founding in 1607 has been celebrated many times throughout history, especially every fifty years.
200th Anniversary (1807)
The 200th anniversary, called the Grand National Jubilee, took place on May 13–14, 1807. Over 3,000 people attended, arriving by boat. The celebration included a procession, prayers at the old church, speeches by students from the College of William & Mary, and performances. Many important people, politicians, and historians were there.
250th Anniversary (1857)
In 1857, the Jamestown society organized a celebration for the 250th anniversary. Between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended. Sixteen large steamships, decorated with streamers, anchored in the James River. Former US President John Tyler gave a long speech, and there were military displays, a grand ball, and fireworks.
300th Anniversary (1907): Jamestown Exposition
For the 300th anniversary in 1907, a big international event called the Jamestown Exposition was planned. Because Jamestown Island was too isolated, the celebration was held in Norfolk, about 30 miles (48 km) away. This location was easy to reach by train and had a large harbor for naval ships.
The Exposition was like a world's fair, held from April 26 to December 1, 1907. Important guests included US President Theodore Roosevelt, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the Prince of Sweden. A major highlight was a naval review featuring the United States' Great White Fleet. The site of the Exposition later became the large U.S. Naval Station Norfolk.
350th Anniversary (1957): Jamestown Festival
By 1957, with better roads and more cars, the 350th anniversary celebration could be held at Jamestown itself. New roads, like the Colonial Parkway, made it easier to reach.
Many projects were completed for the event. Jamestown Festival Park was built next to Jamestown Island. Full-sized replicas of the three original ships—the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery—were built and put on display. On Jamestown Island, a reconstructed Jamestown Glasshouse, a Memorial Cross, and a visitors center were opened.
The celebration lasted from April 1 to November 30, with over a million visitors. Dignitaries included the British ambassador and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon. A special highlight was the visit and speech by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, on October 16, 1957. The Queen even loaned a copy of the Magna Carta for an exhibition. The 1957 Jamestown Festival was so successful that Jamestown became a permanent tourist attraction.
400th Anniversary (2007): Jamestown 2007
In the early 21st century, new facilities and attractions were planned for the 400th anniversary. Many events were held under the name "America's 400th Anniversary."
In January 2007, the Virginia General Assembly held a special session at Jamestown. On May 4, 2007, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip returned to attend a ceremony marking the 400th anniversary of the settlement's arrival, just as they had in 1957.
To commemorate the anniversary, the U.S. Mint released two special coins in 2007: a silver dollar and a gold five-dollar coin.
2019 Commemoration
In 2019, Jamestown, working with Williamsburg, held a commemoration marking the 400th anniversary of three important events in American history: the first meeting of the General Assembly, the arrival of the first Africans to English North America, and the first Thanksgiving.
See also
In Spanish: Jamestown (Virginia) para niños
