Chesapeake Settlement In Jamestown

James Island is the place on James River after entering the Chesapeake Bay and continuing down James River, where more than 100 passengers in 3 English ships travelled to become the first English settlement in America England was their mother country which is a country you are originally from. This was in the Spring of 1607 according to the (Background essay). When they came to this land they were full of hopes. They were all hopeful because they believed the land to be full of riches. They also expected a hidden trade route to China. They wanted to teach Christianity to the native population. Nearly 80% of the colonists who arrived in Jamestown are dead. What they wanted to find in America is treasure and new land to settle but, they found
hard times and death and even their own idiocy.

One of the big reasons that so many colonists died is the environment in Jamestown.
From the river banks of the James River, people could see fresh water streams, meadows and tall trees but this did not last for long. According to (Dennis B. Blanton in his article “Jamestown Environment”), these streams became brackish and reliable sources of fresh water were scarce. The colonists dug shallow wells to quench their thirst, but these were defenseless to drought and saltwater intrusion. Historian Carville V. Earle attributed the disease in the early years to the Jamestown’s position. The filth entering the river was not flushed away and the water was very polluted. The fort was not situated at a place where natural food can be found. It was found only in Spring and Early
Summer.

Another major reason that many colonists die is “the Starving time” which was 1609-1610.
According to the article ("The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts," published in Science on April 24 1998) the rainfall in Jamestown was below 0. This information was determined by studying the rings on old cypress trees growing near Jamestown. A ring forms inside the trunk of the tree for each of the growth. A wider ring means that there is more rainfall and a narrow ring means there is less rainfall. Disease increases with drought. According to “The Generall Historie of Virginia”, New England and the “Summer Isles Book III” from 1624 there was only 1 surgeon and no druggists (pharmacists). It might have been difficult to provide healthcare to the sick people.

Another significant reason is the Powhatan’s siege of Jamestown. In America, before the colonists came, there were already 15000 Powhatan Indians who lived in small villages around the river. The chief of the Indians or the ruler was Wahunsunocock. Since the settlers needed food they forced the Indians to trade grain. The forced trade enraged the Indians. There were skirmishes. According to (“An Abundance of Bloodshed on Both Sides: England’s First Indian War, 1609-1614”), the Indians killed most of the settlers. The population fell down from 330 to
90.

The Colonists both in Jamestown and in their mother country are very committed to survive in the new country. It is a surprise that they survived. They had to be very determined to settle down in America with hardships like disease, famine, drought and war. The English people still kept coming to America, even with all the hardships. Most people were young with ages between 17 and 35 and were poor. They hoped to be successful and they barely made it. Less than 20% of the colonist survived. That was an important part of history because it made America today.