The document describes the layout of the original Jamestown fort, which included a market place, storehouse, streets of houses inside palisades, and a moat surrounding the fort. It also lists several keys to Jamestown's success, including John Smith's leadership which developed relations with the Powhatan and ensured settlers had work, the Virginia Company offering land grants to attract settlers, and the introduction of tobacco as a cash crop. Finally, it notes the Virginia Company gave colonists self-governance through elected representatives, establishing the first legislature in North America.

1. Jamestown Fort
+ The Church 5. Bulwarks of Half-moon Shape
1. Market Place 6. Principal Entrance, or "South Gate
2. Storehouse and Court of Guard 7. Other Gates
3. Streets of "Settled" Houses (shown in rows) 8. Trench or Moat around Palisade
4. Palisades of Posts

2. Keys to Jamestown’s Success
• Leader John Smith made sure that settlers had
work to do and developed ties with the
Powhatan people. The Powhatan provided food.
• The Virginia Company offered a headright, or
land grant of 50 acres to settler who paid their
own way to the colony
• The Virginia Company sent women to
Jamestown, giving settlers the chance to get
married and have children.
• Colonist began planting tobacco, which became
the major cash crop of the new colony
•

3. Jamestown
• The Virginia Company also gave the colonists the
right to take part in their own government.
• In 1619 land-owning male colonists cast ballots
for burgesses, or representatives. The burgesses
helped make laws for the colony. The House of
Burgesses was the first legislature in North
America elected by the people
• This sets the precedent of a self- determining
government