History Storytime - For Kids

American History: Jamestown, Pocahontas and the colonisation of America

May 10, 2020

English sailors build Jamestown settlement, Powhatan Indians react. Pocahontas saves John Smith, but tragedy strikes. Differences between Disney and real Pocahontas. Settlers face starvation and abandonment.

09:56

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Quick takeaways

Pocahontas played a crucial role in saving the Jamestown settlers during a difficult winter by bringing them food and helping them survive.

The relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith was likely a friendship rather than a romantic relationship, contrary to the portrayal in Disney's Pocahontas film.

Deep dives

Founding of James Town Colony

Four hundred years ago, England established its first colonies in North America, hoping to discover gold as the Spanish had done in South America. In 1607, they sent 200 settlers to Virginia to build a colony, which they named James Town after King James of England. The colony faced challenges due to marshy land and a shortage of food. They relied on trading with the Powhatan Indians, occasionally leading to conflict.

Introduction

2min

Arrival of English Settlers and Challenges Faced

2min

The Story of Pocahontas and John Smith: Friendship and Survival

2min

The Starving Time and the Potential Failure of the English Colony

2min

The Return of the Settlers and the Safety of James Town

2min

We tell the story of the founding of Jamestown settlement in 1607 and how Pocahontas helped it survive so it eventually grew into the United States of America. And we tell where the Disney film Pocahontas got it wrong and got it right.

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Sophie (aged 7) and Ellie (aged 4) put ourselves in the shoes of the Powhatan Indians. We feel the excitement of the colonists as they build the Jamestown settlement. This is the anniversary week of the founding of the Jamestown settlement so it is a great time to listen to this podcast.

English sailors bravely cross the Atlantic for Virginia
They build the settlement of Jamestown
We explore the reaction of the Powhatan Indians.
Sophie and Ellie put themselves in the shoes of the Powhatan Indians and talk about how they might have reacted
We feel the experiences of the settlers as they starve and freeze through the winter.
We meet the brave John Smith. And we see him captured by the Powhatan Indians
We hear how Pocahontas threw herself over his body to save him
We find out more about their friendship.
Joy turns to tragedy as John Smith is injured.
We learn about the differences between the Disney Pocahontas and the real Pocahontas
Things go from bad to worse in later winters for the Jamestown settlers with the Starving time.
With John Smith gone Pocahontas stops helping the Jamestown colonists.
Eventually the colonists decide to abandon the settlement in 1610. It looks as though the colonisation of North America by the English has failed.
But back in England John Smith is writing a book about his adventures with Pocahontas.
The English are gripped by the book.
They decide to send more settlers and colonists to Jamestown.
Just as the Jamestown settlers set sail the English fleet arrives. The Jamestown colony is saved.
Eventually that colony grows into the United States of America.