12 a short history of the united states
small settlements in the colony to meet in Jamestown to provide advice.
Tw en t y -two men gathered in the church in town, disregarded the
company’s instructions, and proceeded to enact a series of laws for the
colony against gambling, drunkenness, idleness, and Sabbath-breaking.
This House of Burgesses, as it came to be called, then adjourned. But
it was clear right from the beginning that English settlers were pre-
pared to go their own way and address problems they felt were impor-
tant for their safety and livelihood. Their action demonstrated a degree
of inde pendence that would be imitated by future legislative bodies in
North America in asserting their right to solve their own problems in
their own way.
As the settlers in and around Jamestown prospered, their number
steadily increased, so that by 1620 there were roughly 2 , 000 colonists.
Opechancanough watched with dismay the steady strengthening of
white men’s control of the region to the detriment of the Powhatan
tribes. He therefore decided to put a stop to it. Early in the morning of
March 22 , 1622 , a number of Indians who were unarmed circulated in
several settlements and appeared to be friendly. Then, suddenly, they
seized muskets and axes and began a systematic slaughter of the inhab-
itants. It was a typical Indian ploy: an outward show of friendship to
allay the apprehensions of the colonists, followed by a sudden, swift
killing spree. They wiped out about a third of the settlers, who retali-
ated with lethal force and attempted to drive the tribe further west.
The slaughter on both sides and the resulting turmoil were so intense
that King James revoked the London Company’s charter in 1624 and
made Virginia a royal colony. But the change in government did not
end the killing. Sometime after Powhatan’s death, probably in 1628 ,
Opechancanough became the “Paramount Chief ” and renewed the
fighting, although sporadically. Then, in 1644 , he launched what the
colonists called the “great assault” of 1644 , in which Opechancanough
killed over 500 settlers. But the chief was old, possibly about 100 years,
and his faculties were sharply diminished. He was captured and after a
short time in prison he was assassinated. Thus ended the Powhatan
Wa r.
During the interim the House of Burgesses made every effort to
meet regularly, and in 1639 the king instructed the governor to summon