The founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company, a joint-stock venture that sought to profit from trade and colonization. The settlers faced many hardships, such as disease, starvation, Native American attacks, and internal conflicts. Despite these challenges, Jamestown survived and became the capital of the Virginia colony. Jamestown was established by a group of 104 colonists sent by the Virginia Company, a joint-stock company chartered by King James I to colonize and profit from Virginia (Morgan, 1971). The colonists arrived at the Chesapeake Bay in May 1607 and chose a site on a peninsula along the James River to build their fort. They named it Jamestown after their king. Jamestown faced many difficulties and hardships in its early years, such as disease, famine, hostile Native Americans, internal strife, and lack of supplies. The colonists relied heavily on the Powhatan Confederacy, a powerful alliance of Algonquian-speaking tribes led by Chief Powhatan, for trade and food (Morgan, 1971).  It also increased the demand for labor, which led to the introduction of indentured servants and African slaves to Virginia. By 1624, Jamestown had grown from a small fort to a thriving town with 1,200 inhabitants (Morgan, 1971). The founding of Jamestown marked the beginning of English colonization in North America and laid the foundation for the development of Virginia as a colony and a state. It also significantly impacted the Native Americans, who lost much of their land, resources, and autonomy to the colonists. Jamestown also shaped American culture and identity. It was the site of many historical events and figures, such as Pocahontas, John Smith, Bacon's Rebellion, and the first representative assembly in America.