may 13, 1607 - Founding of Jamestown Colony

Description:

Jamestown was the first successful English colony in the New World. The original settlers had a very difficult first couple of years due to drought, diseases, and conflicts. However, once they started successfully cultivating tobacco, they started to grow and succeed. With the growth of tobacco, the settlers needed more man labor. They began to fill this need with African slaves, laying the foundation for a slave-dependent economy for years to come.