What Were Some Difficulties and Challenges Faced in Jamestown and Plymouth?
Quick Answer
Difficulties that both the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies faced were hunger, disease and extreme environmental hazards. The settlers at Jamestown also suffered from poor relations with the indigenous native Americans, the absence of a family unit and overall inexperience.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
The Plymouth colony was founded in an area that was extremely cold and lacking in fertile soil. This meant that the colonists at Plymouth were unable to support and feed themselves using traditional large farming techniques. Half of the colonists died from malnutrition and disease during the first winter at the Plymouth colony. However, the colonists at Plymouth were decidedly better off than those at Jamestown because of the lack of indigenous tribes in the land surrounding the settlement, as well as their underlying motives for establishing the colony. The colonists of Plymouth were looking to build a society rather than simply exploit the land for economic purposes. This meant the families, skilled workers and a sense of community were already in place. This helped organize and drive the group toward a common goal.
On the other hand, the Jamestown colony was established for purely economic reasons. This meant that the settlers of Jamestown were all men and boys. The support that a family unit offered was nonexistent at Jamestown. Furthermore, the settlers who inhabited the colony were unskilled, middle-class citizens. They were not tied together by a common communal goal, which caused arguing and inaction. Additionally, the Jamestown settlement was established in the middle of a powerful indigenous tribe's territory. As the settlers began to encroach upon the tribe's territory the relations between the two became one of enemies.
Learn more about US HistoryRelated Questions
-
Q:
Who Was the First Governor of Jamestown?
A: Although he was called the president rather than the governor, Edward Maria Wingfield was the first leader of Jamestown. The first person to hold the title... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where Is Jamestown?
A: Jamestown is an archaeological site located in Virginia. It was the first permanent English settlement in North America and was founded by approximately 10... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where Is Jamestown Located?
A: Jamestown was located in the eastern Virginia on the banks of the James River. The original colony, founded on May 14, 1607, expanded beyond the original f... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Where Can You Find Jamestown NY Funeral Notices Online?
A: The Post-Journal newspaper, a local newspaper covering Jamestown, New York, posts obituaries, as do the websites of individual funeral homes in the area. M... Full Answer >Filed Under:
