INTRODUCTION
You are living in 17th century England. The year is 1614, and King James is granting charters
for colonies in the New World. Jamestown, the first successful English colony in America, is
thriving under the leadership of men such as John Rolfe and Captain John Smith. While the risks
and hardships are considerable, the lure of limitless lands and untold wealth are very tempting.
Throughout Great Britain, there is religious turmoil, social unrest, and widespread crime and
unemployment. Opportunity beacons across the Atlantic Ocean for anyone daring enough to grab hold.
THE TASK
You will set up a colony in the New World which the Spanish are calling America. Furthermore,
you will make decisions which will affect the outcome of your colony, and fill out this packet. Lastly,
you will run your colony through a computer simulation.
RESOURCES: INTERNET
Jamestown Illustrations http://www.virtualjamestown.org/gallery2.html
Jamestown Timeline http://www.historian.org/local/jamstwnva.htm
Colonial Williamsburg http://www.history.org
Archiving Early America http://www.earlyamerica.com
VOCABULARY
Joint-Stock Company - a company in which people invest their money
Colony - a town or settlement a country establishes in a New World
Colonists - a person who lives in a colony
Charter - a contract from the king granting permission for a colony in the New World
Headright - 50 acres of free land given to someone who paid for their own passage to a colony
British Pound - English money
Militia - colonists who drill and train to defend the colony (citizen soldiers)
Indentured Servant - a person gives 4-7 years of free service in exchange for passage to the New World
PROCESS
Click on the below link to go to the step by step instructions for
making a colony in this project. Complete each section carefully before
proceeding to the next. Teachers, you may wish to print out the following
instructions as group handouts.
