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'''1607''' is one of the few dates you should memorize.  This was after the Spanish had settled in Florida, but before the French had settled in Quebec.  So remember the sequence in settling America:  Spanish, English, and then French.

'''1607''' is one of the few dates you should memorize.  This was after the Spanish had settled in Florida, but before the French had settled in Quebec.  So remember the sequence in settling America:  Spanish, English, and then French.

Initially, from 1607-1608, the Jamestown settlement lived under socialism, whereby the group shared its food with everyone no matter how much or little each person worked.  This economic system was a complete failure as no one had any incentive to do any work.  In September 1608, [[John Smith]] was elected president of the governing council.  He ruled for a year and installed a conservative economic system:  "don't work, don't eat!"  Under this new system that replaced communism with free enterprise, food production increased and by 1614 there was plenty to eat.

Initially, from 1607-1608, the Jamestown settlement lived under socialism, whereby the group shared its food with everyone no matter how much or little each person worked.  This economic system was a complete failure that led to "starving time" as no one had any incentive to do any work to provide the necessities of life.  In September 1608, [[John Smith]] was elected president of the governing council.  He ruled for a year and installed a conservative economic system:  "don't work, don't eat!"  Under this new system that replaced communism with free enterprise, after a few years food production began to increase significantly and by 1614 there was plenty to eat.

Jamestown settlers had come to America to find fortune, but there was not any gold or silver.  Indians had discovered tobacco and shared it with Europeans who were beginning to become addicted on it.  Many Europeans recognized that tobacco was bad for them, and some wanted to prohibit it.  In 1613, Englishman [[John Rolfe]], who married the Indian [[Pocahontas]] in Virginia, began growing tobacco to export to Europe.  The King banned the growing of tobacco in England, so Rolfe had no competition.  Cash began pouring in for the tobacco, and this so-called "cash crop" became highly profitable for the Jamestown settlers.  Tobacco continued to be very profitable throughout a large part of American history, particularly in the South.

Jamestown settlers had come to America to find fortune, but there was not any gold or silver.  Indians had discovered tobacco and shared it with Europeans who were beginning to become addicted on it.  Many Europeans recognized that tobacco was bad for them, and some wanted to prohibit it.  In 1613, Englishman [[John Rolfe]], who married the Indian [[Pocahontas]] in Virginia, began growing tobacco to export to Europe.  The King banned the growing of tobacco in England, so Rolfe had no competition.  Cash began pouring in for the tobacco, and this so-called "cash crop" became highly profitable for the Jamestown settlers.  Tobacco continued to be very profitable throughout a large part of American history, particularly in the South.

The Virginia colony, despite all its troubles, later produced four of our first five presidents.  Why?  It was big and and rather prosperous.   

The Virginia colony, despite all its troubles, later produced four of our first five presidents.  Why?  It was big and and rather prosperous.   

Let's turn to the Massachusetts settlements next.  Massachusetts had a much harsher climate than Virginia, particularly in the wintertime.  Its settlers were motivated by religion, not money.  They were unhappy with the oppressions of the Church of England, feeling it was too much like the Catholic Church.  Two different groups of these people set out for North America.  One group, the Puritans, or Pilgrims, wanted to purify the Church of England by remaining in the Church and creating a more perfect community.  The other group, the Separatists wanted to separate completely from the Church of England.  Both groups landed by chance within 100 miles of each other in Massachusetts.

Let's turn to the Massachusetts settlements next.  Massachusetts had a much harsher climate than Virginia, particularly in the wintertime.  Its settlers were motivated by religion, not money.  They were unhappy with the oppressions of the Church of England, feeling it was too much like the Catholic Church.  Two different groups of these people set out for North America.  The first group, the Separatists or Pilgrims, wanted to separate completely from the Church of England and establish a religiously pure community.  The second group consisted of more mainstream Puritans who wanted to purify the church from within, without leaving it.  Both groups were types of Puritans, and both groups landed by chance within 100 miles of each other in Massachusetts.

The first group, the Pilgrims, set sail from Plymouth, England and intended to land near the mouth of the Hudson River (now New York City), which was the northern part of the Virginia Company's territory.  But their ship, the "Mayflower", was blown off course and they landed up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts in 1620.  Outside of any official government, they decided on the boat to establish the first civil government in North America by signing the Mayflower Compact.  They landed in December, and half of the people died due to disease in their first New England winter.  But the following spring a friendly Indian introduced them to corn, or maize, the marvelous food discovered by Indians.   

The first group, the Pilgrims, set sail from Plymouth, England and intended to land near the mouth of the Hudson River (now New York City), which was the northern part of the Virginia Company's territory.  But their ship, the "Mayflower", was blown off course and they landed up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts in 1620.  Outside of any official government, they decided on the boat to establish the first civil government in North America by signing the Mayflower Compact.  They landed in December, and half of the people died due to disease in their first New England winter.  But the following spring a friendly Indian introduced them to corn, or maize, the marvelous food discovered by Indians.