HIS 315K Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Powhatan, Cash Crop, Starving Time
Document Summary
England pursues colonization in north america: hakluyt"s recommendations. Convinced queen elizabeth that much good could come to england. Religious and economic mission: extend reformed religion. A lot of converts: profit for england. They also feared spain, drove them to colonize too. Wanted to get rid of this fear: resettle surplus population. These people could get work and something to do in the colony. Virginia company: goals & expectations: expected a profit, wanted riches, gold, precious minerals, wanted to find something just like the. Spanish found gold and french found fur: olives, wine. Jamestown, 1607: realities: powhatan confederacy: tension & trade. Jamestown was located in the middle of the powhatan confederacy. Totally unprepared to live in the wilderness. Managed to work out a relationship with trade after having tensions. Settlers would trade all sorts of things for food. Kept them alive while they got the hang of things and learned new skills: hunger, disease, dissension.
