Making Thirteen Colonies Chapter 4

Name: Colette                                                                                     September 2016

Seventh Grade Humanities                                                               M13C Ch. 4                                                                          

                                                           Homework

Read chapter 4 in Making Thirteen Colonies and answer the following questions using complete sentences. Be sure to use textual evidence and analysis for each question.  Each answer should be a full TEEAC paragraph.

1. Describe the significance of the year 1607, using the following terms: The London Company, King James, and the name of the 3 boats. Be sure to clearly explain each of these terms within your paragraph.

The London Company, who sponsored the voyagers on their trip to the new world, sent three ships called the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed. The London Company is a company in England that has a lot of power and money. The voyagers were looking for gold and resources in the New World. “But it was gold that was on their mind when they reached Jamestown, and they soon began searching for it.” pg 27. However the men wouldn’t find gold, but the London Company needed them to find the gold. “To make things worse, the London Company, which had paid for the voyage, showed poor sense. It gave all the colonists salaries and did not allow them to own property. No one had a reason to work hard, because the hard workers got the same pay as those who did nothing.” pg 28. This shows that the London Company was not thinking, they were not smart to pay the voyagers before they left for the journey to the New World. King James gained the settlers more safety by making a promise with the Spaniards that they would not attack the settlers. Jamestown was named after King James to honor Queen Elizabeth’s cousin. Queen Elizabeth was very liked and praised. In the year 1607, the English started a new colony in the New World.

2. Describe the the terrain and the geography of the English fort.

The English settled in the New World, they lived in a small fort called Jamestown, along the James River. Jamestown was an English colony named after the newly crowned king, King James, the James River was also named after King James. “The settlement is protected by a ditch and palisade (a high fence made of stakes).” pg 26. This shows that the settlers cared a lot about protection and defense. “Most of the houses have thatched roofs made from river grass or reeds, but some are covered with tree bark (an idea borrowed from the Indians). This is important to note because it seems like it could increase the change of have fire. Fire could burn down the settlement easily.

3. Was the initial settlement successful? Why or why not?

The initial settlement was not successful. The land was very murky and the water was brackish. The English chose a terrible spot to colonize in, the land around Jamestown was muddy so they could not plant crops or start farms. “As it turned out, they couldn’t have picked a worse spot. The land was swampy, the drinking water was bad; it was hot in summer and bone-chilling in the winter. The mosquitoes drove the settlers crazy and carried malaria germs.” pg 28. The spot in which the settlers lived was not ideal. There was a lot of germs and sickness from the brackish water that the settlers drank. This is why the initial settlement and the choice to move to the New World was not successful.