Final answer:
Jamestown, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company, was the first permanent English settlement in America. It overcame significant struggles and established the English presence in the New World, leading to further colonization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown in 1607. Sponsored by the Virginia Company and chartered by King James I, the colony was founded as part of England's efforts to establish a presence in the New World alongside other European powers like Spain and France. Despite hardships such as famine and hostilities, the settlement at Jamestown persisted and laid the foundation for future English—and eventually American—colonization.
Jamestown's establishment came after the unsuccessful attempt to settle Roanoke Island and marked a significant moment in colonial history. The Virginia Company sent 144 men and boys, who sailed up Chesapeake Bay and named a river after King James I.
Over time, Jamestown became not only a symbol of English perseverance but also the precursor to later successful colonies such as Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, and others throughout the East Coast, forming the thirteen colonies that would later unite and declare independence from Britain.