Essay On Why Did So Many Jamestown Die

In the spring of 1607, 110 men were dropped off at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay to build a settlement in the new world. They also came to the new world to find riches and spread the Christian religion. But what they didn't know about the land was, it wasnt the best place to settle and it was already occupied by Indians. In the first shipment of men that landed in Jamestown, only 40 survived till December. I think that the reasons many settlers died, was because of disease, Indians, and an undesirable population.

Think that people in Jamestown died, because of disease. In document A, it states that the colonists situated themselves in an area with few reliable sources of fresh water. Almost all of the water around Jamestown was brackish and salty. The high tides rose twice a day, which made salt water intrusions to contaminate fresh water.
In the first twelve days of the colonists settling in Jamestown 2 men died from an Indian ambush. A couple months later 3 more men died from an Indian attack. Then about 2 years later 100 colonists were stationed near the falls and the Indians attacked and killed 50 men. Then during 1609 the Indians, during the “starving season” for the colonists, attacked and took over Jamestown, nearly 33 people were killed. In the span of 2 years the Indians killed about 88 people.

The biggest reason Jamestown was so unsuccessful, was because of the undesirable population. In document C, the ship list shows that there were 47 gentlemen, which are people who don't usually work with their hands. Gentlemen couldn't help the people of Jamestown do anything and Jamestown only had a couple handymen, like carpenters. Also they didn't have farmers, so they had to rely on the animals around them or the Indians. Since the colonists didn't have enough skilled workers and too many gentlemen, this made it difficult to get food and