Jamestown - John Smith and Pocahontas

Summary

In 1607, the English established Jamestown, a New World colony, with settlers from the Virginia Company seeking quick wealth. Ill-prepared and focused on finding gold, they neglected agriculture, leading to starvation and conflict with the Powhatan tribe. John Smith's leadership and the eventual discovery of tobacco saved the colony, which initially saw only 15% survival.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The English established their first New World colony at Jamestown in 1607, driven by the Virginia Company's desire for quick wealth.
• 👔 The colonists, mostly gentlemen not accustomed to manual labor, were ill-prepared for the challenges of settling a new land.
• 🌟 The initial focus was on finding gold, inspired by the Spanish success, rather than on sustainable living practices like farming or fishing.
• 🌧️ The first winter brought hardship, with many succumbing to diseases like malaria and yellow fever, and the rest facing starvation.
• 🤝 The English settlers' interactions with the local Powhatan tribe were strained, particularly after they began raiding the tribe's food supplies.
• 👨‍🦯 Powhatan, the chief of the Powhatan tribe, had a complex relationship with the English, including the kidnapping of John Smith.
• 👸 The story of Pocahontas saving John Smith from execution is likely a mix of legend and reality, used as a display of power and mercy.
• 🛡️ John Smith emerged as a leader in Jamestown, implementing a work-for-food policy that helped stabilize the struggling colony.
• 🥀 The 'starving time' of 1609-1610 saw extreme desperation, with settlers resorting to cannibalism to survive.
• 🚢 Despite the initial hardships, the arrival of new supply ships in 1610 allowed the colony to continue, eventually leading to the successful cultivation of tobacco.

Q & A

When did the English establish their first New World colony in North America?

The English established their first New World colony in North America in 1607 at Jamestown.

What was the primary motivation of the Virginia Company in establishing Jamestown?

The Virginia Company was motivated by the desire to make wealth for its shareholders quickly, similar to a modern-day corporation.

What was the English definition of a 'gentleman' during the time of the Jamestown settlement?

A 'gentleman' was someone who did not work with his hands, often sent to find gold in Virginia.

Why were the English colonists at Jamestown unprepared for the challenges of settling the New World?

The colonists were unprepared because they were focused on finding gold and getting rich quickly, rather than engaging in activities like farming or fishing to sustain themselves.

What hardships did the English settlers face during the first winter at Jamestown?

The settlers faced starvation, illness from mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and yellow fever, and conflicts with the local Native Americans.

Who was the leader of the Algonquian tribe living in the Virginia tidewater during the time of the Jamestown colony?

The leader of the Algonquian tribe was Powhatan, also known as Wahunsunacawh.

How did the English settlers' actions affect their relationship with the Powhatans?

The English settlers' raids on the Powhatans' food supplies during the winter strained their relationship, as both groups were trying to survive.

What is the historical context behind the story of Pocahontas saving John Smith?

The story of Pocahontas saving John Smith is likely a mix of legend and historical fact. It may have been a ritual display of power and mercy by Powhatan, with Pocahontas playing a ritual role in pleading for mercy.

What role did John Smith play in the survival of the Jamestown colony?

John Smith emerged as a leader during the difficult times, implementing a policy that those who did not work would not eat, which helped to sustain the colony.

What event during the winter of 1609 to 1610 is known as 'the starving time'?

The 'starving time' refers to the period when the colonists were so desperate for food that they resorted to eating vermin and, in one case, even resorted to cannibalism.

What significant discovery revitalized the Jamestown colony and made the Virginia experiment more successful?

The discovery of tobacco revitalized the Jamestown colony, as it became a profitable cash crop that sustained the colony.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Founding of Jamestown and Its Early Struggles

The English, late to the colonization game, established Jamestown in 1607, a venture led by the Virginia Company seeking quick wealth. The colonists, mostly gentlemen unaccustomed to manual labor, were unprepared for the challenges of settlement. They were more focused on finding gold, inspired by Spain's New World riches, than on establishing a sustainable colony. This led to a lack of food and resources, causing starvation and conflict with the local Powhatan tribe. The narrative includes the story of John Smith's capture by Powhatan, the tribal leader, and his supposed rescue by Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas. However, the romanticized version of their relationship is disputed, with Pocahontas being much younger and eventually marrying another Englishman, John Rolfe. Despite Smith's efforts to impose work-for-food rules, the colony faced extreme hardships.

05:03

🌨️ The Starving Time and the Turnaround with Tobacco

The winter of 1609 to 1610, known as the 'starving time,' was particularly brutal for Jamestown's settlers. With extreme hunger driving them to desperate measures such as eating vermin and, in one case, a man resorting to cannibalism by killing and eating his wife, survival was a daily battle. Only a small fraction of the settlers, about 15%, managed to endure. In the spring of 1610, the remaining settlers were on the verge of abandoning Jamestown when they were met by new supply ships that decided to continue the colony's experiment. The discovery of tobacco cultivation would later prove to be a turning point, leading to a more successful future for the Virginia colony, as teased for the next video.

Keywords

💡Jamestown

Jamestown refers to the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, established in 1607 on the coast of North America. It is a central theme of the video as it sets the stage for the challenges faced by English colonists in the New World. The script describes how Jamestown was poorly prepared for settlement, leading to struggles with starvation and conflict with local tribes.

💡Virginia Company

The Virginia Company was a joint-stock company, akin to a modern-day corporation, responsible for establishing and supporting the Jamestown colony. It aimed to generate wealth for its shareholders quickly, which influenced the colonists' initial focus on finding gold rather than establishing sustainable agriculture or relationships with the indigenous people.

💡Gentlemen

In the context of the video, 'gentlemen' refers to the English class of men who did not engage in manual labor. The script mentions that these gentlemen were sent to Virginia to search for gold, reflecting the social structure and priorities of the time, which contributed to the initial failure to adapt to the New World environment.

💡Powhatan

Powhatan, also known as Wahunsunacawh, was the chief of the Powhatan tribe that lived in the Virginia tidewater. His role in the video is significant as he represents the indigenous population's response to the English settlers' encroachment on their territory and resources. The script describes the tensions that arose between the Powhatans and the English.

💡Pocahontas

Pocahontas, whose real name was Matoaka, was the daughter of Chief Powhatan. The video script recounts the legend of her intervention to save John Smith from execution, which is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jamestown's early history. Her actions, whether out of compassion or political strategy, are depicted as influential in the early relations between the English and the Powhatans.

💡John Smith

John Smith was a key figure among the English colonists at Jamestown. After his kidnapping by the Powhatans, he emerged as a leader who implemented the policy 'He who shall not work shall not eat,' which was crucial for the survival of the colony. His actions and leadership are highlighted in the video as instrumental in the early years of Jamestown.

💡Starving Time

The 'Starving Time' refers to the harsh winter of 1609 to 1610 at Jamestown, where the colonists faced extreme hunger. The video describes how they resorted to cannibalism and other desperate measures to survive, illustrating the severity of the challenges they faced in establishing a colony in the New World.

💡Tobacco

Although not detailed in the provided script, the mention of tobacco at the end suggests its future importance to the success of the Jamestown colony. Tobacco became a major cash crop that turned the economic fortunes of the colony around, making it a significant factor in the broader story of English colonization in the Americas.

💡Cannibalism

The script recounts an extreme example of desperation during the 'Starving Time' at Jamestown, where one man killed and ate his wife. This act of cannibalism underscores the severity of the conditions faced by the colonists and the lengths to which some were driven to survive.

💡Indigenous People

The term 'indigenous people' in the video refers to the native populations already living in the Americas when the English arrived. The script highlights the conflict and interaction between the English settlers and the Powhatan tribe, emphasizing the impact of colonization on these native communities.

Highlights

The English established their first New World colony at Jamestown in 1607.

The colonists were unprepared and came from the Virginia Company, seeking quick wealth.

The English were influenced by Spain's wealth from the New World, aiming to find gold.

Gentlemen, defined as those who did not work with their hands, were sent to find gold in Virginia.

The English colonists neglected to plant crops or fish, focusing solely on finding gold.

The first winter brought disease and starvation, with no gold found.

The settlers, all men, were adventurers with no intention of starting families or long-term colonies.

As resources dwindled, the English settlers began raiding the local Powhatan tribe's food supplies.

Powhatan, the chief of the Powhatan tribe, was depicted by John Smith.

John Smith was kidnapped by the Powhatans, with a legend of a near execution.

Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, allegedly saved John Smith from execution.

The story of Pocahontas and John Smith's love and marriage is likely untrue.

Powhatan's supposed execution of Smith might have been a ritual display of power and mercy.

After his kidnapping, John Smith emerged as the savior of Jamestown.

Smith implemented a policy that those who did not work would not eat.

The winter of 1609 to 1610, known as the starving time, saw extreme measures for survival.

Only about 15% of the Jamestown settlers survived the harsh conditions.

The colony was on the brink of abandoning Jamestown until the arrival of new supply ships.

The success of the Virginia colony later hinged on the discovery of tobacco.

Transcripts

- [Instructor] So after getting a very late start,

the English finally started a New World colony

on the coast of North America in 1607,

and it was here at Jamestown.

The English colonists at Jamestown could not have been

less prepared to settle a New World.

They came from the Virginia Company,

which was a joint-stock company,

or kind of like a modern-day corporation,

which was trying to make wealth for its shareholders

as quickly as possible.

Now, if you think about people in this time period,

they in England are taking a look over at Spain

and seeing Spain bring ships full of gold and silver

back to Europe from the New World, and they wanna get in

on that action.

And as far as they know, the whole New World

is just piled up with silver and gold.

So in the first months, they sent gentlemen,

and the English definition of a gentleman here is

someone who does not work with his hands,

to try to find gold

in Virginia.

Now, spoiler alert, there is no gold in Virginia.

But that whole first summer, when they were there,

they could have been planting crops,

they could have been fishing, I mean this is actually

a pretty bountiful area when it comes to natural resources

in plants and animals.

But they were trying to find gold, they were trying to

basically get rich quick, this was the scheme.

But then winter rolled around.

Those who hadn't already been killed by mosquito-borne

illnesses, like malaria or yellow fever, were now

subject to starvation.

And there the story gets even more complicated,

because the English settlers, who were all men, by the way,

they were adventurers, they were not there

to start families, start a long-term colony

in the New World, they just wanted to find gold and get out.

So as these English colonists are starving, they start to

run afoul of local Native Americans.

There were an Algonquian tribe

living in the Virginia tidewater, who were under

the rule of this man here.

This is a drawing of him done by John Smith, who we'll

talk about in a second.

His name was Powhatan.

His real name was Wahunsunacawh, but the English called him

Powhatan, and the people that he ruled, the Powhatans.

And as the English settlers realized that they had not

put away enough for practically any stores to get them

through the winter, they started raiding the food supplies

of the Powhatans, which, of course, didn't make them

very happy, they were also trying to survive the winter.

Then the Powhatans kidnapped John Smith,

and there's an engraving of him here.

Uh, and they kinda tried to show him their power.

So there's a legend that Powhatan was intending to execute

John Smith.

The daughter of Powhatan, Pocahontas also wasn't her

real name, that was her nickname, it kinda meant

little playful person.

Her real name was Matoaka, but we know her today

by her nickname, Pocahontas.

And Pocahontas intervened and kept her father

from executing John Smith, either out of the goodness

of her heart or maybe because she had a crush on him.

This is pretty much completely untrue.

The Disney version of this story says that Pocahontas

and John Smith go on to fall in love and get married.

The fact of the matter was that Pocahontas

was probably about 13 years old at the time.

And she will go on to marry an Englishman,

but not John Smith, John Rolfe,

who is famous in another way, which we'll get to soon.

It's also quite likely that Powhatan didn't actually intend

to execute Smith.

Instead, what he was doing was kind of a ritual

of power and mercy,

so he's doing kind of a mock execution,

saying, "All right, I have the power to execute you."

But then, Pocahontas, playing her ritual role, steps in

to say, "No, have mercy."

So he says, you know, "I could kill you

"because I'm a strong leader,

"but because I an also a merciful and just leader,

"I will not."

So after his kidnapping, John Smith really kinda steps up

as the savior of Jamestown, which probably would have

completely collapsed were it not for him.

And in 1608, he takes over and says that,

"He who shall not work shall not eat."

So you gotta pull your weight if you're gonna get supported

by the rest of the colonists.

Nevertheless, the first years at Jamestown were

pretty rough.

In the winter of 1609 to 1610, which they called

the starving time, the colonists were so hungry that

they resorted to eating vermin,

and they resorted to eating each other.

One man actually killed and ate his wife in one of the

few known examples of English cannibalism.

So Jamestown was a pretty rough place to be.

Only about 15%

of the settlers who went to Jamestown actually survived.

In fact, that following spring of 1610,

they decided to give up and head back to England.

They were met, just as they were leaving,

by new supply ships

that continued the Virginia experiment,

which will become much more successful after the discovery

of tobacco.

We'll get to that in the next video.