Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

When was Jamestown founded?

1. 1620

2. 1607

3. 1619

4. 1676

The correct answer is: 1607

Jamestown was founded in 1607 and holds the distinction of being the first permanent English settlement in North America. The establishment of Jamestown marked a significant moment in American colonial history, as it represented the beginning of English efforts to colonize the New World. The settlement was established by the Virginia Company of London, which sought to profit from the resources available in America. The choice of 1620 refers to the founding of Plymouth, another key settlement established by the Pilgrims, which came later than Jamestown. The year 1619 is notable for the introduction of the first enslaved Africans to Virginia and the establishment of the House of Burgesses, the first legislative assembly in colonial America, but does not pertain to the founding of Jamestown. The year 1676 pertains to Bacon's Rebellion, which was a significant uprising in Virginia but occurred much later, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Indigenous peoples, as well as class conflicts within the colony.