John Smith was someone who craved adventures. His father wanted him to become a merchant but this Englishmen wanted to be able to see the world. Smith would need all of his strengths to be able to steer the new colony, which was called Jamestown, through a very hard and disastrous beginning. But as time went on, the colony survived and became England's first permanent settlement in North America.
He was a leader of the Virginia Colony which was based at James Town, between September 1608 and August 1609, and he also led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. He was the first English explorer to be able to map the Chesapeake Bay area and New England. John Smith's books and his maps are considered very important in encouraging and supporting the English colonization of the new world.
When Jamestown become England’s first permanent settlement in the New World, Smith had to train all of the settlers to farm and work, therefore it saved the colony from early devastation. One of his sayings was "he who shall not work, shall not eat." His courage and tenacity overcame many tough situations in the new land. But this strength of character and determination overcame problems that arose from the hostile Indians, the wilderness and the lack of cooperation of the English settlers. Also harsh weather conditions, lack of water, living in a swampy place, English unwillingness to work, and attacks from the Powhatan nation almost destroyed the Jamestown colony.
In December 1607, while seeking food along the Chickahominy River, Smith was captured and taken to meet the chief of Powhatans. This village was on the north shore of the York River about 15 miles north of Jamestown. Although he was scared for his own life, Smith was eventually released without harm and later attributed this in part to the chief's daughter, Pocahontas, Smith said that Pocahontas threw herself across John's body, at the minute of my execution, she risked her body getting beat to save mine; and not only that I was safely conducted back to Jamestown".
Personal thoughts:
I thought that this man was a very brave man to stick up to his father, because his father wanted him to be a merchant but John Smith said no, he wanted to be an explorer. He is a very important man in our history. It was interesting getting to research his because i learned that Pocahontas nearly lost her life just to save John smith.
Sources:
Chapter 1.3 US history book E-Edition.
Comments
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The topic you chose was not in the time required as well.