The Jamestown settlement became the first lasting English settlement in America. Its foundation in 1607, forever changed the course of history in the New World. With the failure of the Roanoke colony around twenty years before, the creation of a lasting English settlement was crucial for establishing English claim in the Americas. Jamestown not only provided a foothold for future English settlements in America but also became quite profitable. This led to further English colonization of the New World. The colonists of Jamestown explored the lands of the New World, the encountered the Native Americans that inhabited the area, and they exchanged goods and information with the Natives as well.
Prior to the foundation of Jamestown there were no lasting English settlements in America. However, the Spanish took claim of …show more content…
There were a few specific goals that the Virginia Company intended for the Jamestown charter. The goals included: discovering a shorter route to eastern Asia, lessening England’s dependence on goods imported from other European countries, providing space for rising English population, converting Natives to christianity and reestablishing a English claim in the New World. The Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery were the three boats used to transport the 105 passengers and 39 crew members across the Atlantic. The fleet left London on December twentieth of 1606 but they were faced with some poor conditions early on that prevented them from making it far in the first few weeks of the journey. According to Master George Perry, a gentleman that was one of the 105 passengers, after only six days of travelling, they were forced to dock in Downes due to raging storms impeding their progress. Eventually, the storms passed and the ships were able to continue their