How did Captain John Smith’s leadership save the settlement at Jamestown?(1 point)ResponsesHe led the settlers in finding large quantities of gold and silver.He led the settlers in finding large quantities of gold and silver.He threatened to send any settler who refused to work away from Jamestown.He threatened to send any settler who refused to work away from Jamestown.He encouraged the settlers to begin a mutiny against the Virginia Company.He encouraged the settlers to begin a mutiny against the Virginia Company.He taught the settlers how to grow tobacco and manage large plots of land.
He taught the settlers how to grow tobacco and manage large plots of land.
Captain John Smith’s leadership saved the settlement at Jamestown by teaching the settlers how to grow tobacco and manage large plots of land.
Captain John Smith's leadership saved the settlement at Jamestown primarily through teaching the settlers how to grow tobacco and manage large plots of land. This answer is supported by historical records.
To understand how Captain John Smith's leadership in teaching tobacco cultivation and land management saved Jamestown, we can examine the historical context.
At the time, Jamestown was a struggling English settlement in Virginia, established in 1607. The settlers faced numerous challenges, including lack of resources, conflicts with Native Americans, and diseases such as malaria. These difficulties threatened the survival of the colony.
Captain John Smith, a former soldier and experienced leader, took charge in 1608. He implemented several crucial measures to save the settlement.
Firstly, Captain Smith introduced a new policy known as "no work, no food." This meant that every settler had to contribute to the community by working, such as farming, hunting, or fishing. Those who refused to work were threatened with removal from Jamestown. This motivated the settlers to start working together for the collective benefit, ensuring the settlement's survival.
Secondly, and more importantly, Captain Smith recognized the need for an economically viable crop. He observed that the colony had been focusing mainly on searching for gold and silver, which had proven unsuccessful. Instead, he encouraged the settlers to cultivate tobacco with the guidance of John Rolfe, an English colonist who later married Pocahontas. Captain Smith recognized that tobacco could be a profitable crop that could save the struggling colony.
Under Captain Smith's leadership, the settlers learned how to grow tobacco efficiently and manage large plots of land. This knowledge allowed Jamestown to become one of the first successful tobacco-producing colonies in the New World. Tobacco cultivation proved to be highly lucrative, providing a much-needed source of income for the settlers and attracting more English colonists to Jamestown.
In conclusion, Captain John Smith's leadership saved the settlement at Jamestown by teaching the settlers how to grow tobacco and manage large plots of land. This economic shift brought sustainable prosperity to Jamestown, ensuring its survival and growth as a successful English colony in Virginia.