Pocahontas
|
Jamestown
The English came to America for several different reasons. They
wanted to practice the religion of their choice. The English thought they could bring
Christ to the people living in America. The English considered them "savages".
Also during this time judges in Britain were sending people who had commented crimes to
America instead of putting them in prison. Business people came to America to buy items
such as furs and tobacco. Farmers also came. They wanted a chance to own their own farms. |
The Virginia Company sent three ships of settlers to the New World in
December 1607. They set up the first colony in America. They named it Virginia. These
settlers named their new settlement Jamestown in honor of the English King James. The king
had sent them to the New World to set up trade between America and England. The group
consisted of 105 men and boys led by John Smith. They built a fort near a river that
flowed into Chesapeake Bay. They named the river James after King James I.
| Unfortunately the fort the men built was on a swamp which contained
mosquitoes that carried a deadly malaria virus. Many of the men died because of this. The
Powhatan Indians lived in that part of Virginia. Fourteen thousand Indians lived in |
Jamestown Fort Built by Andrew, Joyce, Kayla, and Charles
|
Chesapeake Bay when the English came. The settlers did not build
permanent houses or grow food after they arrived. They were not good hunters. Because of
these many English died of disease and starvation.
John Smith was captured by the Indians. Pocahontas, the chief's
daughter, saved his life. After this the settlers began to trade with the Indians for
food.
In 1608 Smith was elected the president of the colony's council. More
settlers came. Smith went back to England in 1609 after being badly burnt in a gun powder
explosion. The next winter was the worst ever. The colonist died from fire, drought,
disease, Indian attacks, and little food. The colony was almost destroyed. Pocahontas
helped the settlers by bringing them corn to eat.
In 1610 Thomas De La Warr, the new governor, arrived with three ships
of supplies. New settlers were encouraged to come with an offer of 50 acres of free land.
The Indians were unhappy about this.
Pocahontas was captured by the settlers and held in Jamestown. There
she converted to Christianity. Eight years of peace came between the Indians and the
settlers when Pocahontas married John Rolfe. Rolfe was a tobacco grower living in
Jamestown.
John Rolfe and Pocahontas visited London. Pocahontas died in London
before returning to her home.
Read this story from
Pocahontas's point of view.
Activities with Jamestown.
Return to the Colonial America Index
Page.