Sunday, November 25, 2007

Jamestown Notes 09/06/07

Reasons for leaving England

Persecution

Potatoe Famine

Two things run world: Money and Love

Primary reason for settlers to go to colonies was money

Not yet religious

No women brought

Importance of women

Women culturally understand women from other cultures than men in similar situation

Women needed for expansion of population

Jamestown not first colony, Roanoke failed 140 miles to south

Young men

Indentured servitude for transport

Jamestown, 1606, Virginia Company asks King James I for charter

Many died on trip to America

Scurvy, lack of Vitamin C

VA Company is a joint stock company

Anyone can invest

VC guarantees settlers same rights of Englander as part of charter

Land May 24, 1607

Terrain was swampy, hot and humid

Mosquitoes

Malaria

Supply ship wrecks off coast of Bahamas

Settlers aren't prepared to survive off land

Starving to death

John Smith takes charge

Natural leaders surface, John Smith is that leader, 1608

Whips colonists into shape

JS kidnapped by local Indians, Powahatans.

Hold JS for several weeks

Almost chop off his head

All fake

Leader wants to express both power and good will

Calls reprieve at last minute

Young girl, 10, named Pocahontas, intelligent, steps in and saves JS, all staged

Fake near killing meant to create good relations between Indians and colonists

Colonists say they will survive on their own

Do a bad job, eating cats, rats

Cannabalism

Finally, in 1610, leader of ship is Lord De La Warr

Tries to alleviate suffering, but settlers in bad shape 

1607-1625, there were 8000 settlers. 15% survived (1200)

Disease

Other cause of death was Indian attacks

Relationship very bad, b/c settlers refuse to learn

Powahatans considers allies, but as time passes, colonists raided Indian food supplies

Relations go bad, eventual war

Stealing food

1614 War 1st Anglo-Powahatan War

Ends 1614 with marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe

Pocahontas was around 16

War ends, but colonists still raiding

P's attack, kill 346 settlers

Kill John Rolfe

1644: 2nd Anglo-Powahatan War

England keeps sending settlers, replinishing people

Settlers learn to grow food and hunt, etc by this time

Might have something to do with reasons for war

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