Jamestown and John Smith

Voyage

• 108 English

• 3 ships– Susan Constant– The Discovery– The Godspeed

• Led by Captain Christopher Newport

• Charter for Chesapeake Bay Area

• Jamestown was named for King James I

Jamestown Island

• Strategic location

• Surrounded by deep waters

• Swampy

• Mosquito plague

• Brackish water unsuitable to drink

• This attempt at colonization followed 18 previous attempts including the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

Who Was John Smith?

• English Soldier

• Sailor

• Author

• Helped to establish Jamestown

• Ran away to the sea at 16 following the death of his father

Pride

• Was very proud and boastful

• In Transylvania was wounded, captured and sold into slavery

• His master gave him to his sweetheart

• The sweetheart fell in love with him

• He was able to escape

John Smith Vs Christopher Newport

• John Smith was such a trouble maker on the voyage from England that Newport intended to execute him when they reached the New World.

• When the sealed ordered were opened John Smith was designated a leader by the crown.

• John Smith became an inspired leader

Colony Almost Destroyed

• Harsh weather

• Lack of drinking water

• Attacks from the Algonquin

The Starving Time

• 1609 -1610

• Settlers- reluctant to work

• Used to slaves and servants

• John Smith instituted a “no work – no eat” policy

• 80% of the colony died

Lord De La Warr

• Arrived with his the Deliverance

• Brought much needed supplies that sustained the colony

• Arrival of Lord De La Warr at Jamestown

Pocahontas

• Did she really save John Smith’s life?

• John Smith was seeking food and captured

• Taken to Chief Powhatan

• Supposedly Pocahontas saved his life as he was about to be beheaded

John Smith’s Account

• “At the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating out of her own brains to save mine and not only that but so prevailed with her father that I was safely conducted to Jamestown.”

Chief Opchanacanough

• Became chief following the death of Chief Powhatan, his brother

• Wanted to eliminate the English colony

• Coordinated the Indian Massacre of 1622

Indian Massacre of 1622

• Attacked outlying plantations and communities on the James River

• Good Friday

• 300 settlers killed

• Jamestown survived

• Warned but no time to warn others

• Chief Opchanacanough captured and murdered

Bacon’s Rebellion

• Jamestown was burned

• Later rebuilt

John Smith Leaves America

• Seriously injured by a gun power burn

• Spark landed in his powder keg

• Was it an accident or murder attempt?