Final answer:
Groups of merchants received charters from the British king to establish settlements in America, with the Virginia Charter leading to the founding of Jamestown.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groups of merchants obtained charters from the British king in order to start settlements in America. These charters were formal documents issued by the monarch as a means of officially sanctioning the establishment of a colony. Merchants and investors formed joint stock companies to pool resources for these colonization ventures, which were permitted and regulated by the charters.
One of the most well-known charters was the Virginia Charter, granted to the Virginia Company, which led to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. The charters often established the governing framework for the colonies and outlined the rights and privileges of the colonists, which inadvertently planted the early seeds of self-governance that contributed to tensions leading to the American Revolution.