Question

How does Smith characterize the colonizing effort and why does he so characterize the effort to settle Jamestown? What was the most difficult challenge faced by the colonists who established Jamestown? How was this most difficult challenge affected by other demands and challenges that confronted the first English to establish a permanent settlement in North America?

Answer 1

How does Smith characterize the colonizing effort and why does he so characterize the effort to settle Jamestown? Captain John Smith, a short, twenty-seven-year-old soldier of fortune with exceptional powers of leadership and self-promotion. With the colonists on the verge of starvation, Smith imposed strict discipline and forced all to labor, declaring that “he that will not work shall not eat.” In dealing with the settlers, he imprisoned, whipped, and forced them to work. Smith also bargained with the Indians and explored and mapped the Chesapeake region. Through his dictatorial efforts, Jamestown survived.

What was the most difficult challenge faced by the colonists who established Jamestown?  They needed to grow their own food, but most were either unfamiliar with farming or “gentleman” adventurers who scorned manual labor. They had come expecting to find gold, friendly Indians, and easy living. Instead, they found disease, drought, starvation, dissension, and death. Most did not know how to exploit the area’s abundant game and fish.

How was this most difficult challenge affected by other demands and challenges that confronted the first English to establish a permanent settlement in North America? The difficulty of the settlers to grow their own food, all the problems involving violent indigenous and diseases. And most important, no signal of precious metals such as gold and silver, Jamestown and consequently other settlements were severe challenges to the North American permanent settlement.