Have students keep track of a timeline of up to ten events from John Smith’s The General History of Virginia. Using the narrative, along with their history textbooks or online resources, have them plug in the dates of the major events, including their arrival, the account of the first winter, his capture by the Native Americans, his return to England, etc.
| December 1606 | Three ships leave England and set sail with 105 men and boys to establish a colony in Virginia |
|---|---|
| May 1607 | After spotting land and scouting the area, the settlers step on land, naming it James Cittie, or Jamestown |
| October - December 1607 | The colony loses over half of its settlers to starvation, disease, and Native American attacks |
| December 1607 | Captain John Smith is captured by the Powhatan tribe and brought before Chief Powhatan; he claims that Pocahontas saves his life |
| September 1608 | John Smith is elected President of the Virginia Council and issues the edict: “He that will not work shall not eat” |
| October 1609 | Smith is replaced by George Percy, and was injured in a gunpowder explosion. He returns to England, never to return to the colony or New World again |
| December 1609 | Chief Powhatan and his tribe lay siege to James Fort, and all but 60 settlers inside die from starvation |
| June 1612 | Jamestown produces its first tobacco crop, which they export to England |
| August 1619 | African indentured servants arrive on a Dutch ship; first meeting held of the Virginia General Assembly (House of Burgesses) |
| March 1622 | A surprise attack by the Powhatans kills 342 colonists, although Jamestown is spared |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Create a timeline of the General History of Virginia.
Start by giving the students an overview of the Jamestown settlement's history. Talk about the reasons for English colonialism and the difficulties that the early settlers experienced. Here teachers can explain more verified facts and details from other general sources. This primary discussion will help the students build a foundation for the secondary discussion.
Teachers can have a secondary discussion on the timeline of the events with the students in detail and ask the students to list the events and get familiar with the information presented in the book itself. Encourage the students to actively participate in the discussion and share any other knowledge and information they have regarding these events.
Encourage the students to highlight the facts and other perspectives present in the book and use their research skills to analyze the accuracy of the events. Students can read other material such as seminal US documents of history and literary significance which are verified and can be used as reference.
Many historians and writers have criticized the perspective of Captain John Smith in “The General History of Virginia”. Students can try to read these criticisms and understand the points of view of different people and find out the points of contention. This will help the students form their own opinions and perspectives and they will be able to present a comprehensive analysis of the events and their timeline.
Encourage students to consider the historical relevance of the incidents that are detailed in "The General History of Virginia." Ask the students to reflect on questions such as to what extent these occurrences further the history of American colonization.
The London Company founded the Virginia Colony in 1607, with John Smith and other English immigrants playing a significant role.
The "Starving Time," Smith's interactions with Pocahontas, and the beginning of commerce with the Powhatan Confederacy are among the events that have made significant contributions to history. Students can also compare Smith’s narrative and other perspectives in this regard as an analysis activity.
The settlers had to deal with issues including sickness, scarcity of food, hostilities with Native Americans, and unfavorable weather. Gradually, under the leadership of John Smith, the settlers were able to overcome these obstacles.