Answer:
It was in 1607 that the first Jamestown settlement was founded by the first English colonists. The city was built on the territory of several Native American tribes from the Powhatan Confederation. Jamestown was in the middle of a marshy area and soon the diseases and insects decimated the settlers, who survived only thanks to the benevolence of the natives who nevertheless asked them to leave their territory. But the English and their leader John Smith continued to expand their lands. In December 1607, he was captured by Indians commanded by Opchanacanough while recognizing the Orapax region. As he was about to be put to death, Smith was rescued by Pocahontas, the daughter of the Indian chief, who asked to be executed too. It is more likely that this was a stunt that only aimed to influence the Englishman, who promised to keep his promises, and to put himself under the control of the Indians.
But in 1608, after a disastrous harvest, the English forced the natives to deliver more food to them. He also contacted the rival Indian tribes of the Powhatan who were around Chesapeake Bay, and in the summer of 1608, Captain Christopher Newport launched an expedition that explored the whole area of the Monacan tribe.
In the spring of 1609, the Paspahegh tribe besieged Jamestown, but a truce was declared after the capture of their Wowinchopunk leader.
Throughout the year 1609, the English were struck by famine. In the fall, the Powhatans ambushed and killed Governor John Ratcliffe. An expedition was sent by John Smith, commanded by John Martin, with the purpose of settling on the territory of the Nansemond where they destroyed Indian burials. Then Deputy Governor Francis West, sent by John Smith with 120 men, with a mission to build a fort upstream of the James River attacked the Patawomeck tribe and then fled to England.
In May 1610, the arrival of Sir Thomas West (Lord de la Warr) led the first Anglo-Powhatan war. On July 9, he sent the new governor Thomas Gates to drive the Kecoughtan out of their village. Chief Powatan sent an ultimatum to the English: either they left Virginia or declared war on them. Mad with rage, De la Warr cut off the hand of a Paspahegh prisoner, and sent it to Chief Powhatan, who took it as a declaration of war.
