Early Jamestown Why did so many Colonists Die?
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Mia Tollis
Mrs. Savvas
2014 October 9
History p.5
Early Jamestown: Why Did so Many Colonists Die? In the spring of 1607 three English ships dropped anchor in Chesapeake Bay. With high hopes these english settlers prayed to make this a permanent english settlement. In their eyes what laid ahead was riches, natives willing to be taught the good of Jesus Christ, and a possible hidden route to China. Sadly most of their wishes only bit them in the butt, out of the 110
Englishmen only forty survived by the end of the years winter. This leaves all with the question,
Why did so many Colonists die? The reason being is native relations, environmental factors, and multiple mistakes made by colonists. The Indians confrontations with the English resulted in multiple deaths of the colonists, reasons being combat, confusion, and attacks. Indians being not as developed as England was not use to the kind of weaponry England had. This is what fueled their fear of the English colonists.
¨In 1609 Francis West and thirty men sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to try to trade for corn with the Patawomeck Indians..Although still part of the Powhatan’s Confederacy, the tribe has seen less of the English than has those closer at hand and with luck might be more friendly. and so it proved.” (Doc D) From this an understanding that most Indians were unfriendly with the
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English, but this tribe had seen little of the English so they were more friendly and welcoming.
¨Though West was able to load his small ship with grain, the success involved ‘some harshe and
Crewell dealing by cutting to tower of the salvages heads and other extremities.’¨ (Doc D) This shows the confusion between the two different groups, Indians and English. Another aspect that resulted in the death of so many colonists was the Gorilla warfare going on continuously throughout few years of settlement. In ¨1607 to 1610 an estimated amount of 110 were killed by
Indians alone¨
Mia Tollis
Mrs. Savvas
2014 October 9
History p.5
Early Jamestown: Why Did so Many Colonists Die? In the spring of 1607 three English ships dropped anchor in Chesapeake Bay. With high hopes these english settlers prayed to make this a permanent english settlement. In their eyes what laid ahead was riches, natives willing to be taught the good of Jesus Christ, and a possible hidden route to China. Sadly most of their wishes only bit them in the butt, out of the 110
Englishmen only forty survived by the end of the years winter. This leaves all with the question,
Why did so many Colonists die? The reason being is native relations, environmental factors, and multiple mistakes made by colonists. The Indians confrontations with the English resulted in multiple deaths of the colonists, reasons being combat, confusion, and attacks. Indians being not as developed as England was not use to the kind of weaponry England had. This is what fueled their fear of the English colonists.
¨In 1609 Francis West and thirty men sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to try to trade for corn with the Patawomeck Indians..Although still part of the Powhatan’s Confederacy, the tribe has seen less of the English than has those closer at hand and with luck might be more friendly. and so it proved.” (Doc D) From this an understanding that most Indians were unfriendly with the
Tollis 2
English, but this tribe had seen little of the English so they were more friendly and welcoming.
¨Though West was able to load his small ship with grain, the success involved ‘some harshe and
Crewell dealing by cutting to tower of the salvages heads and other extremities.’¨ (Doc D) This shows the confusion between the two different groups, Indians and English. Another aspect that resulted in the death of so many colonists was the Gorilla warfare going on continuously throughout few years of settlement. In ¨1607 to 1610 an estimated amount of 110 were killed by
Indians alone¨