JAMESTOWN HSI

• Who knows CSI…what is it?• We are going to be doing a project called HIS….Historical Scene Investigation…what do you think we will do?

• What do you already know about Jamestown?

• Was it a success or a failure?

Where was it located?• Virginia

It was a Failure!!!

• In 1610, after only 3 years the settlers abandoned the colony and set sail for England. They hit the Chesapeake Bay and they were met with a supply ship that “encouraged” them to turn around. Eventually they planted tobacco and were able to overcome some of the hardships…BUT …in the beginning Jamestown was a failure.

Why?• The settlers never found any gold and many literally

starved to death. They began with 108 and in 1608 only 38 were still alive!

• During those three years, many died because of famine…so much so that there are some accounts that say people actually ate corpses and one guy even ate his wife!

• DO YOU KNOW WHY?

Historical Questions

•Our job is going to be to investigate the why’s of Jamestown’s failure.• Why was Jamestown a failure?• Who or what caused the failure?• How do historians know this?

Read the History Alive Text Book

•Highlight or circle the reasons why Jamestown was a failure according to the text book

• Built on a marsh – disease, land not good for farming• Too many gentlemen, not enough laborers, reliance

on Native Americans• Lack of leadership

Do these reasons sound reasonable?• Who wrote this account?• Where would I find out?• Is it trustworthy?• How would I know the writes of this text know?

• Primary documents!

So what happened that caused the "starving time" in Jamestown colony?• We are going to investigate some primary documents.• Document B and C

Doc. B Indian Village of PomeioocWatercolor drawing "Indian Village of Pomeiooc" by John White (created 1585-1586).

Doc C.

The manner of makinge their boatesEngraving by De Bry (printed 1590).

Read Document A• According to John Smith, what caused the failure of

Jamestown?• Cruelty of the Powahatan• Stupidity of leaders• Loss of ships• Settlers did not work hard

• How does this differ from the History Alive text?• Text says that Pocahontas brought food to the settlers and the

Powahatans taught the settlers to hunt, plant and fish• Smith says the Natives were cruel…that doesn't sound cruel!

Document Investigation• Review documents D and E and complete the graphic

organizer with your group.• Answer questions 2-7 on your own.

How was Jamestown saved from failure?• Relief ships from England – discovery of “Brown Gold” –

TOBACCO!!!

Homework

Based on your analysis of the documents and citing evidence to support your answer, please write a paragraph or two answering the following question: So what happened that caused the "starving time" in Jamestown colony? Within your analysis, please indicate whether you were satisfied with the evidence and list any additional questions that have been left unanswered through your investigation.