Reasons for Settlement
A reconstructed settler structure with a thatched roof inside the palisade walls of Historic Jamestown, Virginia, flying the English Cross of St. George.
Essential Question:
Jamestown and St. Mary’s City were both settled as English colonies in North America. Colonies are settlements built on foreign land to control resources and create wealth for the colonizing power. Jamestown was settled in 1607, and St. Mary’s City was later in 1634. While they are both English colonies, their reasons for settlement were different.
Jamestown
King James I of England gave a charter to a group of businessmen called the Virginia Company. The charter gave legal permission to claim land. The businessmen’s job was to start a new English settlement in the Chesapeake Bay area of North America.
Like many explorers at the time, they hoped to find gold and discover a water route to Asia.
The leaders also chose Jamestown’s location carefully. They built it far enough up the James River so that enemy ships, like those from Spain, could not easily fire at or attack the settlement.
Knowledge Check
Read the questions and choose the best answer. Select “Next” to move to the next question. When you are done, check your thinking on each question.
St. Mary's City
While the colonists at Jamestown wanted to find gold and trade routes, the colonists who settled in Maryland left England for religious reasons.
During this time in history, Catholics were not allowed to freely practice their religion in England. Most of England was Protestant, another branch of Christianity.
In the following video clip, you will hear about Father Andrew White, a Jesuit priest. Jesuit priests were important leaders in the Catholic Church who shared their faith with people in new places. You will also hear about Leonard Calvert, who began to lead the Maryland colony after his father died.
Play the video clip to learn more about the settlement of Maryland. Why did the Calverts choose to settle Maryland? How were their reasons different from the reasons Jamestown was settled?
Knowledge Check
Read the questions and choose the best answer. Select “Next” to move to the next question. When you are done, check your thinking on each question.Why Did They Choose to Settle?
Just as Jamestown and St. Mary’s City had similarities and differences in their locations, the founders also had different reasons for starting the colonies.
Compare the reasons why each location was settled by sorting the items in the Word Bank. Drag each tile into the correct column. Then, check your answers to see if your answers are right!
