Overview
Located just six miles from Jamestown, Virginia's first capital, the town of Williamsburg served as the colony's capital and social and cultural center from 1699 to 1780. Originally known as Middle Plantation, Williamsburg was first settled by the English in 1633 to serve as a buffer to protect Jamestown from attack by the Powhatan Indians. By the 1660s, three men-John Page and Thomas and Philip Ludwell-had established prosperous plantations in the region, which helped bolster Williamsburg's reputation. When Jamestown was destroyed by fire during Bacon's Rebellion in 1677, the House of Burgesses (Virginia's representative assembly) met in Williamsburg several times before the capitol was rebuilt in Jamestown. After Jamestown burned down a second time in 1698, Williamsburg became Virginia's capital the following year. Over the subsequent 80 years, Williamsburg was the focal point of the colony of Virginia. Not only was Virginia's first theater (1716), printing press (1730), and newspaper (1736) founded there, but also the capitol was the site of many stirring speeches and resolutions in support of American independence from Great Britain.About the Author:
Tim McNeese is associate professor of history at York College in York, Nebraska
Synopsis
Located just six miles from Jamestown, Virginia's first capital, the town of Williamsburg served as the colony's capital and social and cultural center from 1699 to 1780. Originally known as Middle Plantation, Williamsburg was first settled by the English in 1633 to serve as a buffer to protect Jamestown from attack by the Powhatan Indians. By the 1660s, three men-John Page and Thomas and Philip Ludwell-had established prosperous plantations in the region, which helped bolster Williamsburg's reputation. When Jamestown was destroyed by fire during Bacon's Rebellion in 1677, the House of Burgesses (Virginia's representative assembly) met in Williamsburg several times before the capitol was rebuilt in Jamestown. After Jamestown burned down a second time in 1698, Williamsburg became Virginia's capital the following year. Over the subsequent 80 years, Williamsburg was the focal point of the colony of Virginia. Not only was Virginia's first theater (1716), printing press (1730), and newspaper (1736) founded there, but also the capitol was the site of many stirring speeches and resolutions in support of American independence from Great Britain.
About the Author:
Tim McNeese is associate professor of history at York College in York, Nebraska
Lucinda Snyder WhitehurstCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal
Gr 5-8
The first third of each of these books goes into considerable detail on the political and economic situations that precipitated the settlements' establishment. Since Williamsburg was founded by settlers from Jamestown, those two volumes work well together to present a more complete view of early Virginia. Each volume begins with a map, although Plymouth 's has Philadelphia highlighted and the colony itself unmarked. The page design is clean and uncluttered; however, special-interest insets, while adding useful details, interrupt the text mid-sentence and are annoying. Of the three titles, Plymouth is the most engaging, as McNeese captures the spirit of the settlers as people more so than he does in the other books. These factual overviews are informative but do not bring history to life. Events are related without an emotional component. Students may appreciate the straightforward approach but casual readers will wish for more human interaction. The impact of European settlers on Native Americans is discussed, but the point of view is more English than balanced. These titles offer more detailed information than the "Building America" series (Mitchell Lane) but are not as compelling as "Voices from Colonial America" (National Geographic).
Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8
The first third of each of these books goes into considerable detail on the political and economic situations that precipitated the settlements' establishment. Since Williamsburg was founded by settlers from Jamestown, those two volumes work well together to present a more complete view of early Virginia. Each volume begins with a map, although Plymouth 's has Philadelphia highlighted and the colony itself unmarked. The page design is clean and uncluttered; however, special-interest insets, while adding useful details, interrupt the text mid-sentence and are annoying. Of the three titles, Plymouth is the most engaging, as McNeese captures the spirit of the settlers as people more so than he does in the other books. These factual overviews are informative but do not bring history to life. Events are related without an emotional component. Students may appreciate the straightforward approach but casual readers will wish for more human interaction. The impact of European settlers on Native Americans is discussed, but the point of view is more English than balanced. These titles offer more detailed information than the "Building America" series (Mitchell Lane) but are not as compelling as "Voices from Colonial America" (National Geographic).
—Lucinda Snyder WhitehurstCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.