Basic Info:

The first permanent English colony, Jamestown, did not start very well. They struggled greatly the first few years and needed assistance from the Powhatan tribe nearby to survive. Once it got past their worst period, the “starving time,” they flourished and did well enough that they were able to control the destiny of the land and people around them. This colony is the site of the famous story of Pocahontas and John Smith, which in truth should have indicated that John Smith had been captured and Pocahontas, 11 years old at the time, didn’t save him because she wanted to, but it would be more historically accurate that this was a staged ceremony to adopt him as part of the tribe, as a subservient member, as many Algonquian tribes were known to do for people who had been captured and defeated in war. Their story was not of love, but merely a position as the chief’s daughter. 

Purpose: 

Although the Spanish had claimed all of the Americas, the English did not want to be left behind Spain and France in this drive for resources and land in the New World. The Spanish never came, and especially after the first attempt at Roanoke, they were confident that the Spanish would leave. This location seemed to be a good distance from New Spain for England to settle. 

First Encounters: 

The English first believed the Powhatans to be non war-like unless for women, children, or revenge. The first encounters between these groups were rocky, but eventually fell through after only two years of their relationship. The Powhatan originally believed these settlers were weak and could easily be brought into the commonwealth as a dependent colony on the Powhatan.  

Impact:

Jamestown served as the capital of the Virginia colonies and grew in size and importance so much that at the onset of the American Revolutionary War, they were the largest colony in the English territory. Virginia was the site of the surplus crop tobacco, which helped the colony to amass much capital and heighten its power. 

Cause: 

Following the settling of Jamestown, the English had pressured the Powhatan people for food. This was a war to show the English that the Powhatans did not want to be forced to help feed the Jamestown settlers. 

Basic Info:

This war was a revolt from the Powhatans and their allies, laying siege to the fort. It is also the first recorded war between Natives and the European settlers. English reinforcements forced the tribes to surrender in 1614.

Impact:

The beginning of the war prompted the “starving time” of the Jamestown colony to begin, and almost killed off all of the settlers. The costly war ended in a truce, however,  they had captured Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas (Amonute), and after the war she remained with the English and either chose to or was forced to marry John Rolfe to attempt peace between the two groups. This peace lasted until the Virginia War in 1622. Rolfe and Pocahontas traveled to England with their only son and died of disease, like most Natives that were taken to England.

Basic Info:

This was the first Dutch colony located in today's New York state. Before it was colonized, Algonquian tribes including the Lenape, Mohican, and Wappinger lived in the area. When it was being explored, Henry Hudson traded furs with the tribes. This colony was a major port for the fur trade, which was a major market in Europe. The Dutch were attempting to carve out a little portion of North America that wasn’t already claimed by the English, French, and Spanish. 

Purpose: 

This was the site of one of the Dutch’s three fur-trading outposts, and they were very profitable for many decades. Its main purpose was to trade with the local Natives for furs to then send to Europe to satisfy the current raging fashion there. Part of the purpose was additionally to attempt to join the race for American land, as the colonizing countries were starting to become profitable off of the New World’s resources. 

First Encounters: 

When the Hudson company first reached the area, their relationship with the Natives involved a mixture of commerce, curiosity, and violence. Hudson described the Natives as being “glad they had come.” Although they were both friendly at the onset of the colony, this came with distrust of the other that eventually led to the violence that is becoming the standard for dealing with the Native Americans. 

Impact:

The Iroquois and Algonquian confederations of tribes were involved in this fur trade. As time went on, especially in New York, this prompted pitting tribes against each other in order to get the most benefits from the Natives in this trade. The whole of the colony’s history goes back and forth from peace to conflict because of this. 

Basic Info:

Located among Pueblo Indian cities, Santa Fe is the first lasting Spanish colony on the western side of the United States, with a brief attempt in California just prior. The Spanish had first encountered the Pueblos in the mid-sixteenth century, but did not settle until 1610. It was the capital of New Spain on the northern portion of the empire. As they had done in all Central American settlements, conversion to Catholicism was of utmost importance. While many Natives adopted this new religion, most of those who converted fell away when increased pressure to forget all of their traditional ways pushed them to revolt. Today, this place is the capital of the state of New Mexico, and Pueblo tribes have reservations nearby.

Purpose: 

Hoping to find gold as they did in Central America, the Spanish settled this area with tales of the Seven Cities of Gold, a likely myth that was never found by the Spanish. Many explorers came north to Santa Fe to begin their quest to find this gold; reaching towards California, Colorado, and as far east as the Mississippian people. Such golden cities were never found.

First Encounters: 

Initial encounters between these two groups had the Spanish raping women and stealing food, and many Pueblo people revolted because of this behavior. When the Spanish had taken control of the area, they kept that control for quite a long time. Many missions were established in the area in efforts to convert the Natives to Catholicism. Many Natives accepted this new religion, and it seemed the only benefit to the Spanish, as they did not find that gold they were looking for. Immediately following the first Spanish visitors to the area, the number of Pueblo villages significantly decreased. This was caused by loss of land as well as rampant diseases brought from the Spanish. Because the Spanish were looking for gold, some Pueblo Indians told stories of golden cities, the very ones they had come for, out to the east of the country. This was to move the Europeans away from Pueblo villages, but ultimately that plan had failed. The Pueblos had never recovered their land. 

Impact:

The 1680s was home to a massive revolt by Pueblo Indians that was followed by a brief time with no Spanish in the area. It wasn’t long, however, until the Spanish came back and reclaimed the town of Santa Fe. 

Basic Info:

This colony is most famous for the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Indeed, there was a great feast in which the Wampanoag and the Puritans ate and enjoyed each other’s company. Friendliness between them would always come with a hint of skepticism, as neither group fully trusted the other. It was the third permanent English colony in the United States region, and their group truly came to be a sustainable colony, as many families were in the first group on shore.

Purpose: 

The Puritans traversed the ocean purely because of their need of a place to worship as they wanted, without fear of persecution and mistreatment by the crown or by other citizens. They desired a colony to live, to flourish, and not to search out for gold or resources. Their first intent was to find a place to live and have less to worry about in their lives. 

First Encounters: 

Having many members of their party die on the boats shortly before landing shore, they were already in a desperate situation when first landing in the New World. Their first winter was harsh, and many more died. The Wampanoag observed this, and wished to make an ally with the English, mostly so they could have a powerful ally to help defend against their enemies. With the Wampanoags help, their colony started to flourish and was able to then sustain itself. 

Impact:

Even after the first Thanksgiving, the relationship between the two groups did not reach a level of mutual respect. When the next generation became the leaders, the English had forgotten their reliance on the Wampanoag, and took advantage of their relationship that they felt was no longer necessary. Just a few decades later, King Philip’s War would occur, ending the friendship that was once built between the two peoples. Plymouth went on to be a very strong English colony, striving to remain pure, even through the Salem Witch Trials.