May 14, 2020: On May 14, 1607—413 years ago today—Jamestown, Virginia was established and became the first permanent British settlement in North America.[1]
The difficult conditions were highlighted by the fact that only 60 out of 214 initial inhabitants survived the first eight months in Jamestown. As more settlers arrived, the colony slowly grew. But another harsh winter in 1609 nearly brought it to an end.[1] Still, despite the harsh conditions, the settlement survived to play a key role in American history.
Just over 12 years after Jamestown was established, two momentous events occurred that have played key roles in defining American history. On July 30, 1619, the first representative assembly was formed, beginning America’s long tradition of self-governance.[2] Just a few weeks later—and just a few blocks away—the first slaves were sold in Jamestown.[1] That began America’s long tradition
of institutionalized racism.
As noted in my last book, “These two narratives—one positive and one negative—have competed and interacted to define America ever since. These dueling histories directly impact the way we perceive events today.”[3]
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