Jamestown
The Beginning of Jamestown
Boom! The sail dropped as the 104 Jamestown colonists and 39 sailors pulled up from England after their 4 month sail. They did one of the hardest things you could do. These rich men sailed across the Atlantic ocean. Now, the only thing between here and their old home is the ocean. In this ship, there was nearly no room. They had to drink water with creatures in it. They did all of this just to come to a new land they have heard about. Researchers say how hard this must of been. This is their first time stepping foot on this strange land that they will soon call home. All of them, just almost feeling the gold already on their fingertips. The one thing these men did not know is they had company. The Native Americans have already been living in this land and were watching the settlers.
The history on this topic is very important along with, the help of John Smith, the challenges this colony had, and of course it’s successes. In colonial Jamestown, there were not much supplies. Because of this, the settlers who came to Jamestown built their settlement on a marsh! Today we have enough supplies, so this would not happen to us. We have enough land to not build our houses on a marsh! The history of this settlement helped make challenges and successes.
The History of Jamestown
The history of this settlement is very important. This whole colony was settled by colonists trying to get gold. They wanted to get gold just so they can make money. The first two women arrived here in 1608; one was a wife of a settler and the other was her maid. The people who came here were obviously the colonists. Their company, the other people there, were the Native American, and they wanted to start war! This tribe’s leader was Powhatan. Powhatan took the settlers governor, or leader, John Smith. Powhatan ordered Smith to kneel and lay his head between two stones. Several men raised their clubs in the air. Right then, Powhatan's daughter, 13 year old Pocahontas, laid her head on his, and as some people believe, saved him. Historians are still trying to find the correct answer to this debate. Later after this act, Powhatan and his tribe helped the colonists. They brought the colonist food and taught them great life skills. These Native Americans were a huge help. They were one of the main reasons Jamestown survived!
The Help of John Smith
Smith once quoted, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” This one quote is very powerful.This colony's leader was John Smith, he was among the 100 or so Englishmen who landed here on May 16, 1607. It shows how demanding Smith was. Smith was saying this quote to the others in his colony, the wealthy men. When he said this quote, the colonist started to actually work. It was worth saying this because several men were watching the others work. Smith was so brave he went to war just after he was 15, when his father died. John was born January 6, 1580, in the United Kingdom. Smith died in the United Kingdom and was also buried there. Smith was named president of the council in 1608.John Smith was very brave. He was brave enough to lead his “tribe” to a new land. Smith did crazy things like capturing the King of the Pamunkey tribe in 1608.He made some of the first accurate maps of Virginia. Smith was the one who got saved by Pocahontas. Smith almost died when she put her head on his. In September 1609, Smith was injured when his gunpowder bag caught fire, and he was to return to England. Right after that on June 21, 1631, Smith died.
The Challenges This Colony Faced
It might sound like everything went right for the Jamestown colonist, but actually that’s not true. The colonist faced several challenges. One thing the settlers didn't know was they landed at a terrible time. It was extremely dry and it stayed like this until 1612. The colony had brought very little food. The Powhatans gave them food, yet they didn't have much extra to share. Sometimes the settlers even stole food from the Native Americans. The next bad thing that happened is almost the whole colony died. When the first supply ship came, only 38 settlers remained. The ones who did not die helped others who are sick to survive. Another bad thing that happened to these colonist was they never found gold. This was the only reason these men came all across the Atlantic Ocean. Luckily, because of the Native Americans help, they no longer really needed gold. They were already rich, wealthy men.
As this researcher mentioned earlier, the settlers built their settlement on a marsh. This was not very smart of them. One bad thing about this settlement was bad diseases. Necessarily, the worst one was called Malaria. This was a bad mosquito disease. This disease made more than half of the settlers died that winter. This shows how brave these colonists are. They come to a totally new land, build a settlement, and help try not to let the others die. The settlers that were alive would help the others who are sick to survive. Another bad thing that happened to these colonists was they never found gold. This was the only reason these men came all across the Atlantic Ocean.
Successes This Colony Had
One of the colonist, named John Ralf, made a sweet tasting kind of plant. This was, and is now too, called tobacco. Tobacco is the stuff used in cigarettes. John Ralf helped save this colony; this sweet tasting plant was one of the reasons this colony was successful. As this researcher mentioned earlier, the Native Americans were a HUGE help. Before all this happened, the Native Americans were a harm. Some settlers got killed or even kidnapped. Luckily, right when John Smith took over, he made things right. It was just after he got captured when they started to get along. This researcher say, if I were Powhaton, I would do the same thing. This researcher feels that it would be hard to keep everything straight when there are random people coming on this land and taking their own supplies. Do you agree, do you think the same as researchers and Powhatan? The Powhatans were another one of the reasons this colony was saved. First, one of them, Pocahontas, saved the settlers governor, John Smith. After that, these two troops decided to help each other. The Native Americans brought them food and taught them great life tricks. Now let's talk about something I haven't already told you. Because of these settlers being the first successful colony, many others followed. For example, the next colony to settle was Plymouth. Jamestown settled in 1607 and Plymouth settled in 1620.
Did you know… John Rolfe married Pocahontas?
Ending
In conclusion, this colony obviously had some good and bad times. They had war with the Native Americans and had peace with them. The colonists also had greatly appreciated help from John Smith. This is all what makes great history about Jamestown. Historians feel that his history is so important. Scientist have only found a church left of Jamestown. Meanwhile, they are finding more from the underground of Jamestown. Do you think you would like that job when you grow up? Obviously some people would! Nowadays, we have enough doctors to help us when we're sick, we have enough shelter, and we have enough land to not build our houses on a marsh! Would you rather have your time period be then or now?
Interesting, extra facts
- Jamestown was the capital of Virginia until 1699, when the capital was moved to Williamsburg
- Jamestown was established around 13 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts
- There are many remakes of houses, towns, etc, that look like the ones from back then
- The Jamestown settlement was named after King James, along with the Jamestown River
Resources used
- Ducksters
- World book
- History Alive
- History website
- Colonial America volume 4
- Life in Jamestown Colony
- Kid Rex
- Jamestown- Why there?
- Daily mail. Com
- Pinterest
Glossary
Colonist- A group of people from one country who build a settlement on a new land
Marah- A swampy, wetland
Wealthy- Rich
