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John Smith (Relations with the Powhatans (The land that the Virginia…
John Smith
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Jamestown Colony
The Powhatans originally viewed the colonists with suspicion but initially tolerated the colonists as they benefitted from trade with them.
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During the winter of 1607-1608, the colonists began dying of disease and hunger since they made arrangements to grow tobacco but did not make arrangements to grow or find food.
Jamestown set up properly in May, 1607.
The Jamestown colony was named after the Monarch James I as a way of pleasing him and showing the might of the British monarch in colonies.
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John Smith
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Smith helped to establish the Jamestown Settlement and was given the task of negotiating with the local tribes for food.
On one expedition, Smith was captured by Powhatans and about to be executed but the daughter of the Powhatan chief, Pocahontas, begged for him to be allowed to live.
In 1608, as the conditions got worse for the Colonists, Smith was elected leader and introduced harsh punishments for those who failed to farm and look for food. His leadership was considered vital for the colonies' survival from 1607-1609.
Background of England
By the Battle of Castillion in 1453, England had lost much of its French territories.
Under Mary I, in 1558, England lost its last french land of Calais. This encouraged Elizabeth I to look further abroad for colonies and trade links.
At the time, there was a want for luxury products in Europe like tobacco. Tobacco plants could only be grown in hotter climates than were offered in England.
As such, joint stock companies began to set up in the UK. They involved rich investors who invested and shared the risk (and vast reward if any) of a colony that was set up. People would then join this company as planters.
Walter Raleigh (a favourite of Queen Elizabeth) had funded an expedition to Roanoke in 1584, which since became known as the Lost colony as by 1590, the only trace of the colony was a carving on a tree. However, while no permanent settlement was established, it did set a precedent for future western expansion.
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Smith's Early Life
John Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England.
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In 1598, he was captured while fighting against Ottoman Turks, and by 1600, was sold into slavery in Istanbul.
In 1606, Smith joined the Virginia company and helped to establish the Jamestown Colony.
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Significance
Smith set the precedent for future colonists, and how they should treat other groups there, using them both as an asset for trade but also asserting English superiority over them in War.
Leading the Virginia Company showed the importance of migration for economic reasons like trade but also crop growing of tobacco.
John Smith's treatment of Natives displayed elements of the White mans burden; an idea popularised by Rudyard Kipling which colonists used as an excuse to take over and 'teach' less advanced races.
His leading of the Virginia Company (1607) emphasised the new possibilities for exploration, adding colonies to the British empire which would become much larger, as a source of national pride.