Question

What hardships did the first settlers at Jamestown face?

Answer 1

Settlers in Jamestown main problems were due to starvation. Many of the settlers mined for gold, instead of farming, thus causing a food shortage. At first, they received help from a nearby Native American tribe. Then came along John Smith, who ended that. Though Smith did help re-organize the colony, he raided the tribe that was helping them for food. After that, the tribe no longer supplied them with food, and actually caused constant paranoia to the settlers about being attacked. They started refusing to leave their fort, which meant no food or water, so over 700 ended up dying and the rest settled to eating rats and snakes found inside the fort.