Life in Jamestown was terrible from the start. The expedition to Chesapeake Bay included more than 100 colonists in 1607 but now in 1608 there were only 38 colonists remaining alive. This is because of the harsh climates and stortages on food. Luckly, John Smith arrived to Jamestown and took control on that same year. His methods worked to keep the colonists working and Jamestown began to thrive again. In 1609 even more hope came when 800 more english setters arrived at Jamestown. Trouble came when the Powhatan tribe stopped trading food and started attacking the fort because of the tensions between the Settlers and Native Americans; because of this the setters never left the fort, which lead to the ¨Starving Time¨.
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The colonists ate rats, mice, and other disgusting foods during the Starving Time. Only 60 colonists remained when two ships arrived in 1610. The governor Lord De La Warr imposed discipline so the Starving Time ended. Later, John Rolfe devolped tobacco which colonists learned to grow. It quickly became popular in England. Tobacco was a success and the population in Jamestown jumped from 600 in 1619 to 2000 in 1621. The colony needed more labores so Indentured Servants who were people that could not afford to live in Jamestown so they worked a few years before they were free to have their own land. Cultral differences between the colonists and the Natives made uneasy peace, So John Rolfe married Chief Powhatan's daughter Pochahontas in effort to improve relations between the Colonists and Natives in 1614. In 1619 the House of Burgesses was created as the first government in America. In 1676, the Bacon Rebellion happened which was the first Rebellion against the American government. Bacon marched into Jamestown, took control of the House of Burgesses and burned Jamestown to the ground. Luckly Bacon's sudden illness leading to death ended the rebellion. After that incident, the House of Burgesses passed laws to prevent a royal govenor from assuming such power again. The Burgesses has taken an important step against tyranny.
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