Jamestown Essay - 666 Words

Jamestown nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the sixteenth century, England was one of the most powerful countries in the world. England was also in dire need of money at this time. In an effort to alleviate the country’s financial burdens, King Henry VIII decided to seize land owned by the Catholic Church. Henry then sold the already inhabited land to investors, and its residents were forced out. These people and their descendants would eventually become some of the fortune-seeking colonists that would settle America during England’s try at Imperialism. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the early 1600’s England need money once again, and this time it decided to by settling the new land to the west of them. Instead of actually funding†¦show more content†¦Although the colony was near water and had a good location for shipping goods, it was surrounded by a swamp and stagnant water. This allowed disease to run rampant. Jamestown only lasted until 1700 when its settlers abandoned it, and moved Williamsburg. The colonist’s primary objective, as mentioned before, was to make money, and also try and drive out Spanish colonies. None of the colonists concentrated on survival and focused on their search for prosperity. Because of all the time spent on looking for gold or the route to China, and their lack of skills, the colonists were not prepared for the harsh upcoming winter. The results were devastating. During the winter of 1609 – 1610 almost ninety percent of the colony was wiped out, and only 50 out of the 500 colonists survived. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The government of the colony consisted of a governor and 12 council members, all whom were appointed. The government, named the Virginia Council, had no decision making power at all. Everything was sent over to England, settled there, and then sent back. This system was outrageously inefficient and often took several years for anything to be resolved. This absurd and inept council was another reason the death toll at the colony was so high. They couldn’t force people to work on the colony. Finally, a man by the name of John Smith took control and opened the settler’s eyes. They startedShow MoreRelatedLove And Hate In Jamestown Summary938 Words   |  4 PagesForbes, Business 2.0, and Inc. Price’s career background consist of being a reporter for the Washington, D.C bureau of Investor’s Business Daily. Price has researched Jamestown in multiple occasions. Based on these credentials, I believe David A. Price is a qualified author. D avid A. Price is the author of Love and Hate in Jamestown; John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of a New Nation. This is the history of early America and how it became the country it is now. The chapters in this book are organizedRead MoreLove and Hate in Jamestown Essay1657 Words   |  7 PagesDavid A. Price, Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of a New Nation (New York: Alfred A. Knopf) As a young child many of us are raised to be familiar with the Pocahontas and John Smith story. Whether it was in a Disney movie or at a school play that one first learned of Jamestown, students want to believe that this romantic relationship really did occur. As one ages, one becomes aware of the dichotomy between fact and fiction. This is brilliantly explained in DavidRead MoreEssay on Labor Problem at Jamestown723 Words   |  3 PagesThe Labor Problem at Jamestown, 1607-1618 By Edmund S. Morgan In 1502, Columbus set sailed on his last voyage to the New World. The year 1606, James I issues a charter to the Virginia Company for tract of land along the mid-Atlantic coast. This led to Jamestown. The first settlement in America was Jamestown. It was established in 1607 with a 104 male settlers, which was led my John Smith. 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The London Companys founders believed that there were precious metals in America so they sent a group of settlers to Jamestown. The trip to the Americas was not a very easy one for these settlers. They had to overcome many obstacles just to get to the Americas. In 1619 the House of Burgesses was formed which markedRead MoreJamestown Colony Settlers1874 Words   |  8 Pagesmineral brought back to England were worthless as it was pyrite, that is, fool’s gold. Determining the effect the Jamestown colony had on the environment and on the Native American cultures of the Chesapeake Bay vicinity is a complex issue that must be examined from the perspective of both the Powhatan people and the English settlers. Prior to the establishment of Jamestown, approximately 15,000 natives inhabited the area around Chesapeake Bay, most of whom were ruled by Chief Powhatan. TheRead MoreEssay on The Jamestown Settlement2889 Words   |  12 PagesThe Jamestown Settlement A group of Europeans, headed by Bartholomew Gosnold, began planning a possible business venture that would send a group of colonists to what was already known as Virginia. Gosnold was apparently the driving force behind getting this operation in place. Gosnold was referred to as the first mover of this plantation by Captain John Smith.(Ward) Merchants from London, Bristol and Plymouth sponsored the voyage and persuaded King James to grant a charter and letters ofRead More John Smith in Jamestown Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Smith in Jamestown The leadership strengths and weaknesses of John Smith evoked a profound effect on the Jamestown colony. The fact that Smith actually arrived in the colony as a common prisoner and was able to achieve the leadership role that he gained is amazing. His creativity and knowledge in certain areas actually saved the colonists from attack and starvation in the early days. Some of the rules he enforced as a leader were actually instrumental in saving the colony. His skill inRead MoreJamestown The Buried Truth By William M. Kelso1579 Words   |  7 PagesJamestown The Buried Truth, was an exciting book that unearthed the lost James Fort that was established in the early 17th century. It was told by the lead Archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, William M. Kelso, published by the University of Virginia Press in, 2006. Kelso tells the journey of this twelve year project of discovering Jamestown in preparation for the 400th anniversary back in 2007. Along the way they found the g raves of seventy people, artifacts, trash pits, armor, evidenceRead MoreEssay on Jamestown Vs. New England Colony1272 Words   |  6 PagesJamestown and the Massachusetts Bay Colony had many similarities and differences. Many of these differences were due to their physical location and climatic conditions. The success of both colonies can be contributed to strong leadership and the characteristics of the personalities of the settlers that inhabited each settlement. Many of the early problems in both settlements can be contributed to a lack of knowledge on the parts of the settlers along with attacks from neighboring Native American