John Smith

hoard most of the supplies for his personal use

according to john smith, what did president Edward Maria Wingfield, the first leader of the jamestown colony, do with the food supply for the settlers?

lack of suitable housing for colonists, unused to the heat of virginia, the settlers must toil long and hard hours

reasons jamestown settlers fall ill during their first summer in virginia

50

how many colonists died in the summer of 1607?

they were given ample provisions by the local native population

how did the settlers who survived the first summer in jamestown avoid starvation in the fall of 1607?

they are miserable beggars who need to be fed

when smith and his colleagues undertake their first trading expedition with the Native Americans, what do the Kecoughtans, the tribe they encounter, initally assume about the englishman?

when he is searching for the source of the Chickahominy River

when is john smith taken prisoner by the native americans?

he impresses natives with ability to use a compass to describe world

how does john smith avoid execution when he's first captured by the native americans?

the paper upon which smith writes can speak

when smith sends several native messengers to jamestown while he is being held captive, the messengers are amazed that what smith fortells them will happen does in fact occur. how do the messengers think smith is able to know what will happen in the future

to determine what smith’s intentions are towards them

why do the natives hold a 3 day ceremony involving dancing and chanting around smith

two cannons and a grindstone

what payment must smith make to the natives for his freedom?

Gold, easy riches, and little need for labor.

What do many Jamestown settlers expect to find in Virginia when they arrive?

“Gentlemen” who refuse manual labor and expect others to work for them.

What specific social group does Smith criticize for harming the colony?

Brackish (salty/contaminated) and unhealthy.

What is the condition of the river water that settlers drink from?

Swampy, humid heat of Virginia.

What environmental condition contributes heavily to sickness in Jamestown?

Malnutrition and starvation

What is a major cause of death besides disease in the first summer?

Roughly 38–50 out of about 104.

Approximately how many settlers survive the first summer?

That he kept the best food/supplies for himself and mismanaged provisions.

What accusation is made against Edward Maria Wingfield regarding food?

He is removed as president of the colony.

What happens to Wingfield as a result of these accusations?

He that will not work shall not eat.”

What phrase does Smith use to enforce survival discipline?

Corn

Q: What specific crop do the settlers rely on from Native Americans to survive?

They believe the English are starving and offer them food.

How do the Kecoughtans initially interpret the English when first encountered?

Along the Chickahominy River.

Where is Smith traveling when he is first captured?

They are killed, while Smith is taken captive.

What happens to Smith’s two companions during the capture event?

Q: What object does Smith use to impress his captors?

A compass.

They send him to Powhatan instead of executing him.

What do the Native captors do with Smith after being impressed?

That he has supernatural/spiritual knowledge of future events.

What do messengers conclude about Smith after his predictions come true?

Dancing and chanting ritual to determine his fate.

What kind of ceremony is performed around Smith for three days?

Execution or adoption into the tribe.

What are the two possible outcomes of the ceremony?

She throws herself over him and pleads for his life.

How does Smith describe Pocahontas’s action during his execution scene?

He spares Smith’s life.

What does Powhatan do after Pocahontas intervenes?

What form of “payment” is associated with Smith’s release?

Trade goods and continued exchange with Jamestown (beads, copper, cloth in trade context).

To promote colonization and attract settlers/investors.

What is the main purpose of Smith’s “Description of New England”?

Fish, timber, fertile land, and abundant game.

What types of natural resources does Smith specifically emphasize?

Extremely abundant and easy to obtain.

How does Smith describe fishing opportunities?

Land is fertile and highly productive with proper labor

What does Smith say about farming potential?

Promotional/advertising tone.

What kind of tone dominates this excerpt?

Discussion of danger, starvation, and failure.

What is noticeably reduced or missing from Smith’s description?

Describing land = claiming and controlling it.

What underlying idea connects land description to colonial power?

Defensive and argumentative.

What tone does Smith use in “New England’s Trials”?

Failed voyages, hardship, and loss.

what types of setbacks does Smith acknowledge?

They expect immediate wealth and avoid labor.

What does Smith say about people who criticize colonization?

Hardship is temporary; success will come with persistence.

How does Smith justify continued colonization despite failure?

Hardworking colonists vs. idle/ignorant critics.

What consistent division does Smith make between groups of people?

New England will eventually bring prosperity and success

What is the long-term promise Smith emphasizes?