The New World: Struggles of the Colonies

By Evan Sheaffer 7A1 I.D.4

The New World: Struggles of the Colonies

Many of the early colonies were started because of the prosecution of many religions. The colony of Maryland, for example, was started by the English Catholics.

Another main reason was money. The Europeans were looking for anyway to get rich, from the large amount of trees to the abundant furs. Jamestown was started for the sole purpose of making a profit.

Reasons

The VoyageThe voyages there were long and cruel. The ships they

sailed in were cramped, dirty, and infested with rats.Storms and seasickness were common. The voyage could

take months. Many could die on the voyages. During the Jamestown

voyage, 45 out of 150 men and boys dies from diseases during the trip.

When the settlers finally arrived, they had to seek out a friendship with the Natives. If not, the natives would overwhelm the weak colonists.

At first, the natives were acceptant of the colonists. Afterwards, they would realize that the settlers would expand and take over their land. Natives would then go to war.

The Europeans were new to this guerrilla warfare. In the Old World, the soldiers would form a line and keep firing until the other side lost.

Native Americans

This was completely against the Native American warfare. They would hide in the woods, strike quickly, then retreat back.

The colonists would have to adapt to this to survive. They wore armor in the chest and head to protect from the arrows, and had a musket and sword.

Native Americans Continued

The Europeans were unused to the disease of Malaria brought by the mosquitoes.

The colonists also had tricks up there sleeve. They introduced diseases like smallpox, influenza, and measles.

The Natives were powerless against them, and soon were devastated. In the French and Indian War, British troops used blankets contaminated with smallpox to devastate the Native Americans and force them out of the war.

Diseases

The Virginia Company sent the wrong kind of men to colonize the New World. Gentlemen knew almost nothing about the skills required to survive, like farming. They were very lazy, and refused to work until starvation.

The men also were focusing on a different goal: finding gold. They were sent to make money for the company.

Native Americans would be feared. If the men would go out to hunt, they could be ambushed and killed.

All of this lead to cannibalism!

Starvation

Pictures of Jamestown!

Cannons on ShipReplica Ships that sailed to Jamestown.

Armor of Soldiers

Soldier with Musket

More Pictures!

Excavated church at Jamestown(Parts of Jamestown are still underground)

Descendent of John Rolfe and Pocahontas wearing standard clothing of Jamestown colonist.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080627054946AAzRFdg Website

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ0SADj17UI/TnLr-g_QjTI/AAAAAAAAAhM/4UmjClgHffE/s1600/Early_American_Conflict.jpg Image

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_smallpox_come_from Website

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/biological_warfare/article_em.htm Website

The Real History of the American Revolution, by Alan Axelrod. Pages 28-31.

Sources