Jamestown - The First English Colony

1 Mar. 2004. <hhttp//search.eb.com>. “Uighur.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2004.

Both New England and the Chesapeake were founded by the British around the same time; however, both colonies developed a different economy, government, and many other ways of life. In 1607, King James I. granted a charter to the Virginia Company which allowed them to start a colony in the New World. This colony was named Virginia after the virgin queen, Queen Elizabeth I, and was located along the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Company sought to build a permanent settlement, and was successful in establishing Jamestown. Virginia was also home to nearly 14,000 Algonquin speaking Native Americans who were united under the Powhatan Confederacy lead by Chief Powhattan.

America is a strong nation, however, it had a very rough beginning. It all began with the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent settlement in America. The settlers had a tough time and overcame many of the adversities that they were confronted with such as cold, natives, lack of motive, and many other factors. Though, through their struggles, they shaped America and its literature as it is today. The legacy that Jamestown left is one that would help found the United States of America as we know it today.

After the fall of Puritan rule in Massachusetts, Great Britain regained control over Massachusetts and expanded throughout North America, making it one of the greatest empires in the world. In order to maintain their power in the colonies they enacted rules and regulations regarding traded goods. However, most colonists resorted to smuggling and boycotting items. It was not until the French and Indian War did England begin to strictly enforce these restrictions due to a large war debt. The Sugar Act was one the first acts that had started a domino effect which led to the American Revolution.

Among the many complex factors that contributed to instigating the American Revolution, two stand out most clearly: England’s imposition of taxation on the colonies and the failure of the British to gain consent of those being governed, along with the military measures England took on the colonists. Adding to these aforementioned factors were the religious and political legacy of the colonies, and the restriction of civil liberties by the British. Parliamentary taxation was undoubtedly one of the greatest factors inspiring the American public to rebel in the years leading up to the American Revolution. One of the most striking examples of this kind of taxation was the Stamp Act of 1765. After many years of fighting, England badly needed revenues from their colonies, and they sought to acquire these revenues from the New World, thereby increasing their influence over the colonial governments.

Cultural clashes and disputes over land escalated as English towns grew and population pressures intensified colonists' demand for more land. The English settlement of Springfield is an example of how first European trader and then settlement affected pre-existing Native American trade networks and political relations. Settled in 1636, Springfield was the first English settlement in the middle Connecticut River Valley. Englishman William Pynchon and his son John quickly established a lucrative fur trade with local Native peoples. Native hunters traded furs for European products, while the English sold their furs back to England for high profits.

Comparing Chesapeake and New England Bay Colonies Curiosity and bravery led the English to discover the nations of America. These strong willed Europeans, determined to find to a new world, set out with high hopes and ambitions. Settling a variety of colonies along the coast of North America, the English were among the first true pioneers. After several expeditions and ships loads of emigrants, the English had a divergence of reasons for departing Europe for America. The settlers of the Chesapeake and New England colonies, were foreigners to the land, established two exceptional but contrary societies due to the diversity of English citizens.

There were many factors, both immediate, and longstanding that lead to the decision to fight for freedom from British rule. The American Revolution had some of its beginnings in the French and Indian war. For seven years, Britain battled the French and Indian nations in the colonies. Where the colonies militia fought beside the troops of the British army and learned war first hand. After winning the war, Britain had a large debt 140 million pounds.

What was to come was years of hardship and war. The colony of Chesapeake had begun with the first establishment of the English colony of Jamestown in the year 1607. The English immigrants who had established Jamestown were indentured servants, who agreed to work for an English company with the purpose of gaining passage to the New World. The colony of New England was also established similar to the colony of Chesapeake due to the fact that English immigrants seemed to escape life in England for a more free and un-ruled life in the New World. The Middle Colonies consisted of a variety of different European natives.

During the late 16th and the 17th Centuries, these companies competed with each other fiercely. By the last quarter of the 18th Century the English had vanquished all others and established themselves as the dominant power in India. The military campaigns of Robert Clive and the administrative enterprise of Warren Hastings (1772 - 1785) contributed significantly to this achievement. British Colonialism The British administered India for a period of about two centuries and brought about revolutionary changes in the social, political and the economic life of the country. Most Indians who came in their contact could not perceive the strategic threat posed by the East India Company.