#Jamestown: A Deep Dive for APUSH Success 🚀

Hey there, future APUSH master! Let's break down Jamestown and make sure you're ready to ace that exam. This guide is your secret weapon for tonight's review. Let's get started!

#The Genesis of Jamestown: Joint-Stock Companies

This section is crucial! Understanding joint-stock companies is key to grasping early colonial economics and motivations.

#The Rise of Joint-Stock Companies 💸

What were they? Business organizations where investors pooled money to fund ventures. Think of it like a group of friends going in on a business together, sharing the risk and reward.
Why were they important? They solved the problem of funding expensive colonial expeditions. No single person had to risk everything!
- Benefits:
  1. Access to capital: Easier to fund big projects. 💰
  2. Limited liability: Investors only risk their investment, not their entire fortune.
  3. Easy transfer of ownership: Shares can be bought and sold.
  4. Attracts talent: Stock options motivate employees.

Memory Aid

Think of Joint-stock companies as Jumping into business together! Many investors, less risk for everyone.

#Jamestown: The First Permanent English Settlement

Chartered: 1606 by King James I. The Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock company, got the green light.
Goal: Profit! Colonization and Christianization were also on the agenda.
Location: Marshy peninsula on the James River. Great for defense, terrible for health. 🦟
- Early Struggles:
  1. Poor planning: Not enough food or supplies.
  2. Disease and death: Contaminated water, mosquitoes, and malaria. ☠️
  3. Hostile relations: Conflicts with Indigenous peoples over land and resources.
  4. Poor leadership: Infighting and lack of cooperation.
Initial Issues: Colonists were more interested in finding gold than planting food. Many were adventurers who expected instant riches like the Spanish.

Key Concept

Remember: The initial focus on gold instead of agriculture was a HUGE mistake. It led to starvation and conflict.

Indentured Servants: Most early migrants were single young men who worked for a set period in exchange for passage. This led to a skewed sex ratio (6:1 men to women). They had few prospects for marriage after their service.

#John Smith and Leadership

#John Smith: The Savior of Jamestown

Leadership: He stepped up, traded with natives, established a government, and motivated colonists.
Military Discipline: Instituted a "work or don't eat"

European Colonization

Daniel Miller