Especially after the massacre of almost 400 colonists on March 22 , 1621/22 by Native Americans , and epidemics in the winters before and after the massacre , the governor and council ruled arbitrarily , showing great contempt for the assembly and allowed no dissent . By 1624 , the royal government in London had heard enough about the problems of the colony and revoked the charter of the Virginia Company . Virginia became a crown colony and the governor and council would be appointed by the king . Nonetheless , the Assembly maintained management of local affairs with some informal royal assent , although it was not royally confirmed until 1639
massacre
Indian massacre of 1622
House of Burgesses