Early American settlements interactive timeline

Early American settlements

By Reese Grayum - Thornberry 5th period

1643

1578

1584

1587

1606

1619

1620

1627

1686

Jamestown

Plymouth

Roanoke

The beginning

The Virginia Company

Conclusion

Religous freedom

King James I

Although all three colonies faced challenges, obstacles, and violence, each paved the way for European exploration of the New World in their own ways.

In 1578, Queen Elizabeth I gave Sir Humphrey Gilbert permission and materials (a patent) to travel to North America and settle on/colonize any lands not already taken. After traveling to the Americas, Gilbert sailed back to England but was tragically lost at sea.

Breaking away from the Church of England

Expeditions

The first Thanksgiving

After Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his crew were pronounced missing/dead, Queen Elizabeth I transferred her patent to his brother, Sir Walter Raleigh.

In April of 1606, King James I organized and sourced the income of Jamestown for the Virginia Company of London. A charter was granted to a group of investors and the company for the purpose of setting up a colony in the New World, finding gold/silver, and discovering a route by river to the Pacific Ocean. Around 105 settlers left from England in that December, led by Christopher Newport. They arrived off the coast of Virginia in mid May of 1607. Many Native American tribes had already occupied lands near the settlement(s) of the English. Relationships varied, some showing indifference or kindness, as well as some attacking settlers, showing violence, and leading raids of materials.

Click either image to learn more about the first Thanksgiving.

John Smith and Pocahontas:

Sir Humphrey Gilbert (left) and Queen Elizabeth I (right)

Then, in 1584, Raleigh sent Captain Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe for the same original purpose of colonizing/obtaining new land on Roanoke. The men returned safely back to England with many different samples of native plants and a group of Native Americans.

In 1620, a group of an estimated 100 separatists from the Church of England settled on the coast of Massachusetts in what is now known as Plymouth. The separatists, also known as the pilgrims, had broken away from the church for the purpose of having more religous freedom and to simplify regulations and traditions of those of the English. Aboard their ship, the Mayflower, they created the Mayflower Compact on the way to the New World. The compact created a temporary government for the colony and helped Plymouth to become the first settlement/colony created and based on social contract, for "the good of the people." When they arrived to Cape Cod, the pilgrims established their colony around the belief of free practice of Catholic/Christian religion, and by 1691, Plymouth colony had grown to the population of around 7,000.

Fun fact- the love story of Pocahontas and John White was based in colonial Jamestown. Click on the image to learn more.

After a hard first year at Plymouth, colonists had had a successful harvest season thanks to Squanto, a Native American from the Wampanoags, a nearby tribe. William Bradford called for a celebratory feast, inviting for all Plymouth colonists and an estimated 90 Wampanoags on November 28th, 1621. This feast is now known as "the first Thanksgiving" in America.

Sir Walter Raleigh (left)

and John White (right)

Sources part one

The Mayflower.

Click image to learn more about the Mayflower Compact.

Pictures:

Youtube videos:

The settlement established in 1587 is what is famously known as the "Lost Colony" among the Roanoke expeditions. With an estimated 100-120 English settlers, Sir Walter Raleigh sent John White to the island with the new purpose of setting up a liveable colony.

Hard times and tobbaco

The Virginia House of Burgesses

Click here to view the location of the island and learn more.

More to know

The first elective governing assembly by the English

In the fall of 1609, after both John Ratcliffe and John Smith left government offices, the "starving times" began. Native American tribes attempted to drive the English out of Virginia by starvation. The Natives cut off all trade and led attacks against forts, as well as killing many men. The winter of 1609 and leading into 1610, over 1/5 of all settlers living in Jamestown died. Many turned to eating livestock (horses, cats, dogs), and after that, rats and mice. Food became so scarce that the colonists eventually started cannabalism throughout the colony.

1. “History of the Holidays: History of Thanksgiving | History.” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/lslqtUMwDxA?si=JisqRZOewd6q8OBo. Accessed 13 May 2024.

2. “In Search Of: Haunting Disappearance of Roanoke’s 117 Settlers (S2, E3) | Full Episode.” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/BErfr9hkNdk?si=_r4jfjLJbVf6TZXf. Accessed 13 May 2024.

3. “Virginia’s House of Burgesses.” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/uJreycUi66Q?si=y0Vy7qTAu-PVZ0kC. Accessed 13 May 2024.

4. “What Is the Mayflower Compact?” Www.youtube.com, youtu.be/KovOrGBciQg?si=9IRqN8ApN1qx8Fwv. Accessed 13 May 2024.

1. Ashley, Maurice. “Charles I | Biography, Accomplishments, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-I-king-of-Great-Britain-and-Ireland.

2. Camas, Joanne. “What Did the Pilgrims Eat at the First Thanksgiving.” Epicurious, Epicurious, 5 Oct. 2016, www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/the-real-story-of-the-first-thanksgiving-menu-recipes-article.

3. “Croatoan Mystery of North Carolina | the Inn on Bath Creek.” Luxury Bed & Breakfast, 22 Oct. 2018, innonbathcreek.com/croatoan-mystery/.

4. "Humphrey Gilbert.” Prabook.com, prabook.com/web/humphrey.gilbert/3734510. Accessed 13 May 2024.

5. “John White (1540-1593) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Www.findagrave.com, www.findagrave.com/memorial/125901000/john-white.

6. Roos, Dave. “What Was Life like Aboard the Mayflower?” HISTORY, 18 Nov. 2020, www.history.com/news/mayflower-journey-pilgrims-america.

7. Varner, Paul. “THE FIRST THANKSGIVING, Part 1.” The Literary Life, 25 Nov. 2015, paulvarner.wordpress.com/2015/11/25/the-first-thanksgiving/. Accessed 13 May 2024.

8. Wikipedia. “Elizabeth I.” Wikipedia, 14 June 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I

Sir George Yeardley.

Click image to learn more about the House of Burgesses.

The Virginia House of Burgesses was a self governing assembly created in Jamestown of 1619. It's purpose was to allow Virginian settlers to have a say in their government by electing representatives to establish laws and rules/regulations. Sir George Yeardly was the governor of the colony and had a major impact/say in the House of Burgesses.

Geographic location:

Located in present day North Carolina along the coastal Outer Banks islands.

Having close relations to Pocahontas, the colony of Jamestown and it's economy was transformed after the starvation of 1609-1610. Her husband, John Rolfe, was heavily familiar with growing tobbaco and introduced it to the colony in 1614

John Rolfe and Pocahontas

To colonize more land in the New World.

Purpose of settlement:

More to know

CROATOAN

Many were lost at sea/ dissapeard on Roanoke Island.

Settlers:

Advancements in government and Native American troubles

The unsolved mystery of Roanoke

Success:

Located in present day Massachusetts, near Cape Cod Bay.

Geographic location:

Was not much of a success. Many deaths/dissapearances. Did begin and influence more expeditions into the New World from the English and Europeans.

King

Charles I

William Bradford

John

Carver

Sources part two

Sources part three

After an attack by Native Americans in 1622 that killed 1/3 of the colony's population, King James I dissolved the company and made Virginia, including Jamestown, a royal colony under royal rule in 1624.

The end and more to know

Pictures:

Websites/Articles:

After setting up and establishing the colony of Roanoke, John White sailed back to England with the purpose of obtaining more materials. However, when White arrived, the English were at war. White was held by the Spanish Armada and not able to sail back to Roanoke until three years later in 1890. When he finally arrived to the colony, it was deserted. All 100-120 settlers had vanished. The only clue left behind was the simple word "CROATOAN" carved into a nearby tree by the camp.

Religous freedom/seperation from the Church of England.

Purpose of settlement:

Websites/Articles:

Geographic location:

Located in present day Virginia along the James River.

Mostly Catholic, seeking freedom and separation of church and state.

Settlers:

In 1627, Plymouth colony completely separated and cut off the English. After the death of John Carver, Plymouth's governor, William Bradford took his place. All was well in the settlement except for relations with Natives. in 1643, Plymouth (Virginia) joined Massachusetts and Connecticut in an aliance whos purpose was to drive Native Americans away from the colonies and settlements. A war broke out, which caught the attention of the King Charles I. In 1686, he created a dominion of the New World colonies, which included Plymouth. Further adaptations to the Mayflower Compact and the colony's government were added in 1672 and 1685.

Bring wealth to the Virginia Company/England, find a route to the Pacific Ocean by river.

Purpose of settlement:

What does Croatoan mean?

Settlers:

Mostly men and young boys. Many starved in the Winter of 1609. Many became tobbaco farmers for the colony.

1. Benson, Sonia, et al. "Roanoke Colony." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 7, UXL, 2009, pp. 1316-1318. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3048900517/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=ad5556f1. Accessed 13 May 2024.

2. "Roanoke Island." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 17 Oct. 2023. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Roanoke-Island/63844. Accessed 13 May. 2024.

3. "Jamestown Colony." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 Oct. 2023. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Jamestown-Colony/43322. Accessed 13 May. 2024.

4. "Jamestown Colony." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: Government and Politics, Gale, 2009. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3048400015/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=49561663. Accessed 13 May 2024.

9. Wikipedia Contributors. “James vi and I.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Jan. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_VI_and_I .

10. ---. “John Carver (Governor).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 May 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carver_%28governor%29. Accessed 13 May 2024.

11. ---. “John Rolfe.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rolfe.

12. Wikipedia Contributors. “Walter Raleigh.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Raleigh.

13.“William Bradford (1722-1791) by Granger.” Fine Art America, fineartamerica.com/featured/william-bradford-1722-1791-granger.html. Accessed 13 May 2024.

14. Wolfe, Brendan. “Sir George Yeardley (Bap. 1588–1627).” Encyclopedia Virginia, encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/yeardley-sir-george-bap-1588-1627/.

15. Slate.com, 2024, www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/06/pocahontas/140617_SCI_Pocahontas_Hero.jpg.CROP.fresca-xlarge.jpg. Accessed 13 May 2024.

8. "Mayflower Compact." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia™, Columbia UP, 2024. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69215103/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=8a405108. Accessed 13 May 2024.

9. "Mayflower Compact." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2019. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Mayflower-Compact/51595. Accessed 13 May. 2024.

10. "Thanksgiving." Gale Middle School Online Collection, Gale, 2022. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/HVHYDJ070690687/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=5871fce8. Accessed 13 May 2024.

5. "Plymouth Colony." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: Government and Politics, Gale, 2009. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3048400016/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=e47e073d. Accessed 13 May 2024.

6. Benson, Sonia, et al. "Plymouth Colony." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 6, UXL, 2009, pp. 1239-1241. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3048900485/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=9b65fe6e. Accessed 13 May 2024.

7. Benson, Sonia, et al. "House of Burgesses." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 4, UXL, 2009, pp. 719-720. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3048900287/MSIC?u=j101913045&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=9f778d01. Accessed 13 May 2024

Success:

Very successful early English colony compared to Roanoke and Jamestown. Created self-government document aboard the Mayflower.

Flourished in the industry of cash crops with tobbaco. Brought wealth to Company and England, as well as influencing further exploration. Also set up House of Burgesses.

The Croatoans were a Native American tribe off North Carolina/Roanoke island. Click on the image to learn more.