Posted: January 23rd, 2024

The History of Survival of Jamestown Colony

The History of Survival of Jamestown Colony

Jamestown Colony was the first permanent English settlement in North America, founded in 1607 by a group of adventurers led by Captain John Smith. The colony faced many challenges and hardships, such as disease, famine, conflict with Native Americans, and internal strife. However, despite these difficulties, the colony managed to survive and eventually prosper, becoming the capital of Virginia and the birthplace of representative government in America. How did Jamestown Colony overcome its obstacles and achieve its success? This blog post will explore some of the factors that contributed to the survival of Jamestown Colony.

One of the main factors that helped Jamestown Colony survive was the leadership and skills of Captain John Smith. Smith was an experienced soldier and explorer who had traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. He was elected president of the colony in 1608 and imposed strict discipline and order on the settlers. He also established trade and diplomatic relations with the Powhatan Confederacy, a powerful alliance of Native American tribes that controlled the region. Smith secured food and supplies from the Powhatans and learned valuable information about the land and its resources. Smith also explored the Chesapeake Bay and mapped its coastline, opening new opportunities for trade and expansion.

Another factor that aided the survival of Jamestown Colony was the arrival of new settlers and supplies from England. The colony received several reinforcements from the Virginia Company, the joint-stock company that sponsored and financed the venture. These reinforcements brought more manpower, skills, tools, weapons, livestock, seeds, and other necessities that improved the living conditions and productivity of the colony. Among these arrivals were women, who increased the population and stability of the colony by marrying and starting families. Some of the notable newcomers were Sir Thomas Gates, Sir Thomas Dale, Sir George Somers, Lord De La Warr, John Rolfe, Pocahontas, and John Pory.

A third factor that enabled the survival of Jamestown Colony was the development of a profitable export crop: tobacco. Tobacco was introduced to England by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1586 and soon became a popular and lucrative commodity. However, tobacco cultivation required large amounts of land, labor, and capital, which were scarce in England. Therefore, many entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to grow tobacco in Virginia, where land was abundant and cheap. One of these entrepreneurs was John Rolfe, who arrived in Jamestown in 1610 and experimented with different varieties of tobacco seeds until he found one that suited the English taste. Rolfe’s tobacco was a success and created a high demand for Virginia’s product in Europe. Tobacco became the main source of income for Jamestown Colony and stimulated its growth and expansion.

A fourth factor that contributed to the survival of Jamestown Colony was the establishment of a representative assembly: the House of Burgesses. The House of Burgesses was created in 1619 by Governor George Yeardley as a way to grant more autonomy and self-government to the colonists. The House of Burgesses consisted of 22 elected representatives from 11 districts or plantations in Virginia. The House of Burgesses had the power to make laws and levy taxes for the colony, subject to the approval of the governor and the Virginia Company. The House of Burgesses was the first legislative body in America and set a precedent for democracy and republicanism in the New World.

These are some of the factors that helped Jamestown Colony survive its challenges and become a successful settlement. Jamestown Colony was not only a historical milestone but also a cultural legacy for America. Jamestown Colony influenced many aspects of American society, such as politics, economy, religion, law, language, customs, and values.

Bibliography

Horn, James. A Land as God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America (New York: Basic Books,
2005).

Kelso, William M., Jousting with Shadows: Historical Archaeology at Jamestown (Charlottesville:
University Press of Virginia,
2019).

Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. The Jamestown Project (Cambridge: Harvard University Press,
2007).

Price, David A., Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Start of a New Nation
(New York: Vintage Books,
2005).

Woolley, Benjamin. Savage Kingdom: The True Story of Jamestown,
1607
and
the Settlement
of America (New York: Harper Perennial,
2008).

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