Colonial America: Jamestown | Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the questions based on the passage about Jamestown, Virginia, and explain each answer clearly.

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Passage Summary:

- Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
- It was established in 1607 by the Virginia Company.
- The settlers were looking for gold and a route to Asia.
- They arrived with three ships: *Susan Constant*, *Godspeed*, and *Discovery*.
- When they landed, they found that Native Americans (Algonquians) already lived there.
- The Native Americans called the area Tsenacomoco, but the English named it Jamestown after King James I.
- The settlers faced many hardships: disease, starvation, lack of food, and conflict with Native Americans.
- Despite this, Jamestown survived and became the first permanent English settlement.
- In 1619, the colony introduced representative government (House of Burgesses) and slavery.
- Over time, tobacco became a major cash crop.

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Now, let’s answer the questions:

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#### 1. Where were the original inhabitants of the area that was settled by the English?

Answer:
The original inhabitants of the area were the Native American Algonquian tribes.

Explanation:
The passage states: *"When they arrived, they explored the coast in search of a place to settle... Unfortunately, the Algonquins, a Native American tribe, were already living in the area where the settlers wanted to build."*
So, the people who lived there before the English arrived were the Algonquian Native Americans.

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#### 2. What did the settlers do to earn money?

Answer:
The settlers earned money by growing and selling tobacco.

Explanation:
Although the passage doesn’t explicitly say "tobacco" in the sentence about earning money, it says: *"Eventually, a new colonial named John Rolfe introduced tobacco and Jamestown began growing it as a cash crop..."*
A cash crop is a crop grown for sale and profit. So, the settlers grew tobacco to sell and earn money.

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#### 3. Imagine you are a Native American living near Jamestown. How would you feel about the new settlers?

Answer (example):
I would likely feel fearful, angry, and worried about the new settlers.
They came into our land without asking, took our resources, and tried to build a town where we had lived for generations. At first, we might have been curious or even helpful, but when they didn't respect our ways, fought us, and brought diseases that killed many of us, I would feel threatened and upset. I’d be afraid of losing our land, our way of life, and our people.

Explanation:
This is an opinion-based question, so any reasonable response showing understanding of the Native American perspective is acceptable. The key points from the passage are:
- The settlers arrived on land already inhabited.
- There were conflicts and attacks.
- Disease spread from the settlers.
- The settlers built their own town and ignored Native customs.

Thus, feelings of fear, anger, sadness, or frustration are logical responses.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. The original inhabitants were the Algonquian Native Americans.
2. The settlers earned money by growing and selling tobacco.
3. (Example) I would feel scared and angry because the settlers took our land and brought harm to our people.

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