Obstacles Faced In Colonial Virginia

Words: 1067
Pages: 5
Open Document
It can be said that without the help of the Native Americans, the colonists of North America would have experienced greater casualties than their already significant number. There were many obstacles that the colonists faced. The obstacles consisted of difficulty acquiring water, food, shelter and also facing the harsh weather of the environment as well as hostile groups of natives. Both the colonies of Virginia and Plymouth faced similar obstacles. However, they each had their own experience and dealt with them in different manners. The colony of Virginia started off strong, they arrived onto the new world and began exploring and mapping out their plans. They encountered a few natives, some were hostile and some were not. The ones …show more content…
In battle, a person can defend themselves using weapons, shields and other methods. However, Disease and Weather cannot be fought with swords and muskets. Thus, the colonists were unprepared for those challenges. The text outlined below illustrates my point of view. “Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases, as Swellings, Fluxes, Burning Fevers, and by wars, and some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of mere famine.” (George Percy 5). Another element we can take from the previous line is the lack of food the colonists had. Considering that huge portions of the settlers were either dead or too weak to work, the lack of food was not surprising. The people healthy enough were already working hard to take care of their fellow men and keep the mortality rate from escalating. Fortunately, the natives turned around and helped the colonists out. The following line illustrates how vital the natives were to the colonists’ survival during the difficult period of initial colonization. “It pleased God, after a while, to send those people which were our mortal enemies to relieve us with victuals, as Bread, Corn, Fish, and Flesh in great plenty, which was the setting up of our feeble men, otherwise we had all perished.” (George Percy 6). In the quoted line George Percy acknowledges the fact that if it weren’t for the natives’ help, they would not have …show more content…
“Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation” (William Bradford 3). Squanto helped them traverse the lands and served as a way to communicate with the natives of the new world. Another valuable thing that Squanto had was his knowledge of the terrain and survival. “He directed them how to set [plant] their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died” (William Bradford 3). From the preceding line, we can clearly see that Squanto taught them how to garner food and survive the
Show More

Related Documents: Obstacles Faced In Colonial Virginia

Essay Principle of Effective Occupation

Principle of Effective Occupation The principle of effective occupation stated that powers could acquire rights over colonial lands only if they actually possessed them: in other words, if they had treaties with local leaders, if they flew their flag there, and if they established an administration in the territory to govern it with a police force to keep order. The colonial power could also make use of the colony economically. This principle became important not only as a basis for the European…

Words 3244 - Pages 13

Latina History Essay

women it was the very first time ever working in a factory taking over the jobs their husbands left behind. Although it was a great opportunity for these women they had to face obstacles, they realized they didn’t have their own rights. As for being a latina in the 19th century was similar to the struggles these women faced as well and were known for their work, Maria Amparo de Burton a writer and had a powerful voice she used to write about gender class and race through her poetry. Lola Rodriguez…

Words 1914 - Pages 8

African AMerican Poets Essay

Ololade Onilogbo English 102 April 23, 2014 African American Poets The colonial era is a time period that covers the establishment of English colonization in America (The New World) from 1607-1776. European settlers came from a vast variety of social and religious groups. The Native Indians were the first settlers in North America. During the European establishments made in North America, the Europeans sought to change the Native Americans way of life, to change their way of life, and religion.…

Words 1761 - Pages 8

Healthcare Essay example

the autonomy that physicians have historically enjoyed. The medical profession has also consolidated into larger organizational units, away from the solo practice of medicine that had once prevailed. Medical Services in Preindustrial America From Colonial times to the beginning of the 20th century, American medicine lagged behind the advances in medical science, experimental research, and medical…

Words 18329 - Pages 74