INTRODUCTION TO VIRGINIA STUDIES Refrigerator Card for SOL Home Review What were the three major American Indian FIVE GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF VIRGINIA (VS.2b, VS.10b) language groups found in Virginia? (VS.2d) How do the five geographic regions differ and where are they located? Coastal Plain (Tidewater): flat land located near Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay (includes the Eastern Shore); east of the Fall Line Products - seafood, peanuts Industries - shipbuilding, tourism, military bases 1) Iroquoian Spoken in southwestern Virginia and Piedmont: land at the foot of mountains; rolling hills west of the Fall Line Languages in southern Virginia near what is Products - tobacco products, information technology today North Carolina. The Cherokee were part of this group. Industries - technology, Federal and state government, farming, horse industry Blue Ridge Mountains: old, rounded mountains that are part of Appalachian 2) Siouan Spoken primarily in the Piedmont Mountain system. They are located between the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge Languages region. The Monacan were part of regions and are a source of many rivers. this group. Products - apples 3) Algonquian Spoken primarily in the Tidewater Industries - recreation, farming Language region. The Powhatan were part of Valley and Ridge: includes the Great Valley of Virginia and other valleys this group. separated by ridges. (The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Valley and Ridge Regions are part of the Appalachian Mountain system.) They are located west of the Blue How did the native peoples and the English interact? (VS.3g) Ridge Mountains. Captain John Smith initiated trading Products - poultry, apples, dairy, beef Industries - farming relationships with the native peoples. Appalachian Plateau: (area of elevated land that is flat on top); located in Why did the relationship between Southwest Virginia; only a small part of plateau is located in Virginia the Jamestown settlers and the Products - coal native peoples change? Industries - coal mining The native peoples traded mainly with the English in exchange for What is a peninsula? (VS.2c) A piece of land bordered by water on three sides. tools, pots, and copper for The Eastern Shore is a peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the west and the jewelry. Atlantic Ocean to the east. The Chesapeake Bay separates the Eastern Shore from the mainland of Virginia. The native peoples contributed to the survival The four major rivers that flow into the Chesapeake Bay are separated by peninsulas. of the Jamestown settlers by: 1) Powhatan, chief of many tribes, provided Relative Location (VS.2a) leadership to his people and taught Which water features were Location of places can be described in the settlers survival skills important to the early history of relative terms. Relative location may 2) Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, Virginia? (VS.2c) be described using terms that show served as a contact between the -- Potomac River connections between two places such Flows into the Chesapeake Bay native peoples and the English. as, “next to,” “near,” and “bordering.” Alexandria is located along Potomac River 3) The native peoples showed the settlers -- Rappahannock River Which states border Virginia? how to plant corn and tobacco. Flows into the Chesapeake Bay Over time, the native peoples realized the English Fredericksburg is located on Rappahannock settlement would continue to grow. River. The native peoples came to see the settlers as -- James River invaders who would take over their land. Flows into the Chesapeake Bay Fall Line (VS.2b): The natural Richmond and Jamestown are located along border between the Coastal the James River. -- York River Plain (Tidewater) and Piedmont Flows into the Chesapeake Bay Regions, where waterfall pre- Yorktown is located along the York River. vent further travel on the river. Many early Virginia cities developed along the What bodies of water border Fall Line, the natural border between the Coastal Virginia? Lake Drummond (VS.2c) Located in the Plain (Tidewater) and Piedmont Atlantic Ocean (VS.2c) Coastal Plain (Tidewater) region; Shallow regions where the land rises sharply and where Provided transportation links between natural lake surrounded by the Dismal Swamp the waterfalls prevent further travel on the river. Virginia and other places (e.g., Europe, Dismal Swamp (VS.2c) Located in the Coastal Africa, and the Caribbean) Plain (Tidewater) region; Variety of wildlife. Each river was a source of food and Chesapeake Bay (VS.2c) George Washington explored and surveyed the provided a pathway for exploration and Provided a safe harbor and was a source of Dismal Swamp. settlement. food and transportation Virginia Standards of Learning (2008), Rebecca Mills, Supervisor of Social Studies, Spotsylvania County Schools Virginia Studies Page 2 Why are native peoples called Indians? (VS.2d) JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA The first permanent English settlement Christopher Columbus called the people he found in the lands in America was Jamestown, founded he explored “Indians” because he thought he was in the Indies in 1607 as an economic venture. (near China). What were the reasons for English Artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery, and colonization in America? (VS.3a) other tools that have been found tell a lot about the people England wanted to establish an American who lived in Virginia. There is evidence that American colony to increase its wealth and power. Indians lived in all areas of the state. England hoped to find silver and gold in America. Virginia’s American Indians worked with the environment and the An American settlement would furnish raw climate to meet their basic needs. Virginia Indian cultures have materials that could not be grown or obtained in England, while opening new markets for trade. changed over time. (VS.2e) Environmental Connections: What were the reasons why the Jamestown Forests, which had a variety of trees, cover most of the land. settlers came to America? (VS.3a) Virginia’s Indians are referred to as Eastern Woodland Jamestown was primarily Indians. an economic venture. Animal skins (deerskin) were used for clothing. The stockholders of the Shelter was made from materials around them. Virginia Company of The kinds of food they ate, the clothing they wore, and the shelters they had London financed the depended upon the seasons. settlement of Jamestown. The climate in Virginia is relatively mild with distinct seasons - spring, Where is Jamestown located? (VS.3b) summer, fall, and winter - resulting in a variety of vegetation. (VS.2e) When the settlers arrived in 1607, Jamestown was Winter Spring Summer Fall located on a narrow peninsula bordered on three hunted birds and hunted, fished, grew crops harvested crops and sides by the James River. Today, Jamestown animals and lived hunted for is located on an island in the James River. on foods to stored preserve foods and and from picked keep for the (beans, corn, the winter berries previous fall squash) Today, most native peoples live like other Americans. Virginia Indian cultures have changed over time. Why did the settlers choose the site at Why is archaeology important? (VS.2f) Jamestown? (VS.3b) Archaeology is another way that helps people Instructions told the settlers to go inland and understand the past. Archaeologists study all kinds of find a suitable place for their colony. material evidence left from people of the past. The location could easily be defended from Findings change the understanding of history. Recent Spanish attack by sea. archaeological digs have recovered new material The water along the shore was deep enough for evidence about Werowocomoco and historic Jamestown. ships to dock. They believed they had a good supply of fresh What was Werowocomoco? water. Werowocomoco was a large Indian town used by Indian leaders for several hundred years before the English settlers came. It was the Importance of the Virginia charters (VS.3c) headquarters of the leader, Powhatan, in 1607. The King of England had the power to grant charters allowing settlement in North America. What was Jamestown? Drawn by John Smith He granted charters to the Virginia Company of Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in North America. London to: Archaeologists have discovered the site of the original fort. The recovered arti- establish a settlement in North America, and facts give archaeologists clues about the interactions of English, Africans, and extend English rights to the settlers. Indians in Virginia. American Indians have lived in Virginia for thousands of years. Today, eight American Indian tribes are recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia: (VS.2g) Coastal Plain (Tidewater) Region: Chickahominy Tribe; Eastern Chickahominy Tribe; Mattaponi Tribe; Nansemond Tribe; Pamunkey Tribe; Rappahannock Tribe; Upper Mattaponi Tribe Piedmont Region: Monacan Tribe American Indians, who trace their family history back to before 1607, continue to live in all parts of Virginia today. Virginia Standards of Learning (2008), Rebecca Mills, Supervisor of Social Studies, Spotsylvania County Schools Virginia Studies Page 3 As Jamestown grew, the system of government evolved.(VS.3d) The English settlers found life in In 1619, the governor of Virginia called Jamestown harder than they a meeting of the General Assembly. expected. The General Assembly included: What hardships did the Jamestown the governor settlers face? (VS.3f) the governor’s council The site they chose to live on was marshy two representatives (called “burgesses”) and lacked safe drinking water. from each of the divisions of Virginia. The settlers lacked some skills necessary to (At that time, only certain free adult provide for themselves. men had a right to take part.) Many settlers died of starvation and disease. By the 1640s, the burgesses became a separate legislative body What changes took place that resulted called the House of Burgesses. in survival of the settlers? They met separately from the Governor’s Council as one of the arrival of supply ships two legislative bodies of the General Assembly. forced work program and strong leadership of Captain John Smith Why was the House of emphasis on agriculture ensured survival Burgesses important? of the colony.