Early Jamestown Dbq Analysis

One early attempt to colonize America killed over 430 people, so how did they survive? In the spring of 1607, three ships sailed from England filled with passengers whose goals were to find gold in the New World. Little did they know, those hopes were soon to be destroyed. The thought of this New World was appealing to most but many soon after would change their decision to come. During the first three years about eight percent of the colonists had died. But what killed them? On the peninsula they named Jamestown were many environmental problems that the colonists could not survive with their lack of skills. Not only that, there were many unfriendly Native Americans, including the Powhatan tribe, that killed many people. Most colonists did not have a chance against these problems. On May 14th, 1607 the first settlers arrived in the Chesapeake Bay. Their first priority is to find somewhere to set up camp. They end up choosing a peninsula by the James River. During the time they arrived, there was an ongoing drought that eliminated most of their food supply (Doc B). The drought was so bad the colonists had to build wells that only …show more content…
When they arrived at Jamestown the colonists assumed the Native Americans would be welcoming. This could have been possible if not for a man named Francis West. In 1609, two years after landing in Jamestown, West and thirty-six other men sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to try and trade with the Patawomeke tribe for corn. To force the people to trade, West decided it would be wise to cut off two of the Native American’s heads. In the end West and his men got a load of grain they needed. The only problem was that it would not last the colony through the winter but it could last a trip back to England with the crew. Francis and the thirty-six others returned back to England, leaving the colony with less food and more enemies (Doc