Summary
Mosquito-infested swamps. Dwindling supplies. A confederacy of tribes that already lived on the land. That's just a taste of what settlers faced in their attempts to found Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in America. Much of the so-called New World had already been claimed by other European powers. To catch up, England outsourced the work of establishing colonies to private adventurers and corporations. In 1607, the Virginia Company of London sent 100 recruits to establish a colony on America's East Coast. The men dreamed of easy riches and land of their own. Instead, they found a land already occupied by a powerful confederacy of Native tribes called the Powhatan. Battling harsh conditions and shrinking supplies, the settlers lost dozens to disease and starvation that first winter. But under the leadership of Captain John Smith, they forged a shaky alliance with the Powhatan—thanks in part to the influence of Chief Wahunsenacawh’s young daughter, Pocahontas. But the alliance would be short-lived. Find out why in Jamestown, Part 2!
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Jamestown, Part 1:
- What is one new thing you learned about jamestown, part 1?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining jamestown, part 1.
- Draw or give one example of your own.