The Jamestown colony
Capt. John Smith Pocahontas John Rolfe
Have you ever wondered how hard starting a colony is. Although Jamestown had tobacco and a great leader they had no fresh water and they still succeeded. The settlers had to be patient and face many obstacles to achieve their ultimate goal.
What Was the Ride to Jamestown Like?
The ship ride to James Town was tough for the settlers not familiar with ship life. For example, when they neared their location after crossing the Atlantic the water was very salt and muggy. This caused livestock to die, diseases and chaos among the ship. If they sailed in the 21st century then the settlement would be much easier because of the advances we have in medicine today. Here is hand written story by a young boy about to get on the ship and trying to convince his friend to come with him.
Eighteen-year-old John Dods turned from his packing to answer the door.
“I’ve come to say farewell,my freind,” said the tall,young man standing in the doorway. “I shall be hard at work when you leave tomorrow.”
“ Yes ,tomorrow I sail for virginia. When I board the Susan Constant in the morning I will begin a new and hopefully better life,” replied john,as he stuffed a pair of pants into his bag
“Won't you change your mind, John?” his friend asked. “It's a long dangerous trip.”
“I’m not afraid. Whatever troubles the new world may hold, I can survive them. Why don't you come with me?” asked John. “England holds nothing for either of us. If you are not a member of the nobility or a merchant, what will you have when you are old and you can't work? Perhaps a little money but no land to call your own. In virginia, rich lands wait for me to claim them. Gold sits untouched in the ground. Precious gems lie on the beach just ready to get taken. Come with me and be rich, free, and happy in the new world.”
Frowning his friend replied “I wish i could believe as you do,John. I wish you good fortune, though I admit I do not believe it awaits as you. Good-bye john.”
Many people have noticed that that ship ride could have been so much worse. So many things could have gone wrong because it was 1606 when they first set sail, and there are so many things that have improved in the past years with ships that it would be such a smoother and easier ride now than it was in 1606.
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| The ships Jamestown sailed on |
How Did Tobacco Save Jamestown
During the starving time the colony needed money or something to support the colony.They needed this because the powhatans support was starting to slow down because Jamestown kept constantly demanding food from the powhatans since they didn't have much. Powhatans were attacking the colony but but eventually stopped because of the discovery.This helped the colony a ton, Now the colony was very wealthy. Jamestown kept selling the tobacco to England and kept getting more money. Sometimes England traded with food and other helpful supplies for the tobacco.
Tobacco plant
Who Was John Rolfe?
John Rolfe was born in 1585. John Rolfe was one of the most important people in Jamestown for one reason…Tobacco. He was a normal person who settled in the colony, but once he discovered tobacco he was a savior. He was such an important figure because at the time he discovered tobacco the colony was getting really poor and running out of supplies. But once John discovered tobacco and sold it to England and other colonies it got Jamestown more financially stable.
John rolfe and pocahontas John Rolfe
Who Was John Smith?
John Smith was born January 1580 he left for Jamestown when he was 34 in 1614. He was known for meeting the Powhatans and for being a great leader of the colony.
In 1607 John Smith got captured by the Powhatans. He was brought to their leader Powhatan. The chief ordered him to put his head between two stones. Smith thought that they were going to kill him Pocahontas put her head write on top of Johns. John thought that she had saved his life but the Powhatan said that “It was a tradition and we were not trying to kill him.” Once this event was over it created friendship between the two colonies. During the starving time John was badly burnt by an explosion of gunpowder and returned home to England.
Who Were the Powhatans?
The reason the Powhatans didn't like Jamestown is because Jamestown kept changing their lifestyle like Jamestown kept demanding food and supplies and that's why they wanted to get rid of the settlers. There was some piece here and there but the Powhatans just wanted to get rid of the settlers so they made a plan, they captured John Smith. But luckily Pocahontas the daughter of Powhatan saved him.
Afterwards this started a friendship between the two colonies. They were so friendly that they brought Pocahontas back to England to meet the king. While the were in England they treated her with much loyalty she even got to sit in the king's throne but on the trip ride back Pocahontas got ill and died in march 1617 at only 22 years old.This got the Powhatans angry and they attacked Jamestown. Although there were still at least half the settlers still alive,this still makes people today very angry because it’s not the settlers fault that she died.
What Was Good About Jamestown Succeeding
A success of Jamestown.The success of Jamestown was huge because it was the first successful English colony in North America it inspired so many other people like if they wanted religious freedom or wealth or a start over to a new life and a new world around you. Next after Jamestown many other settlements were created.
Although Jamestown had many successes the state house was burnt down in 1698 and Williamsburg became the new capital. By the 1750s, Jamestown was a place for farming.
Some of the settlements they inspired
Researchers have noticed that the other colonies did not set sail until they knew that Jamestown succeeded.
Conclusion
Researchers think that some people now might be able to start their own colony.They think that because there is more advanced things people can use to survive and succeed. But other researchers don't because unless you come up with a great invention that will make you rich and get food and supplies you do not have much money to buy supplies and food and it will be very hard to survive and succeed.Now that you know how much planning and preparation it takes to start you own colony from scratch with no food and no water until you get it yourself do you think you can succeed and start your own new colony.
Sources that were used in this piece of writing:
Ship ride path and map from:
http:http://www.bermuda-online.org
Recreation of the ships the settlers used to sail across the atlantic ocean pic: http://www.historyisfun.org
Fun fact/ mystery: www.washingtonpost.com
Biography of John dods: The story of jamestown “book”
Hand written By John Dods
Information about Jamestown throughout the story: History Alive”book”,http://www.history.org, A Short History of Jamestown “article”https://www.nps.gov.
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