In 1606, a London-based joint stock company known as the Virginia Company obtained a royal charter from King James I to establish an English colony in the New World. . On May 24, 1607, a hundred English settlers landed on the James River and founded the colony of Jamestown; both named after King James. Jamestown's settlement was only expected to last a few years before its investors liquidated the company for a huge profit. Instead, they sparked the start of an entire era of English colonization. The Jamestown colony became the first of many colonies that would appear all along the eastern seaboard of North America. Although Jamestown gradually prospered through tobacco production, the early settlers faced famine and a culture war that nearly wiped out the entire colony. In addition to this, Jamestown's early settlers encountered many other obstacles in the New World, including death by starvation and disease, clashes between Native Americans, and lack of leadership, and their efforts to overcome these obstacles changed the colony economically and socially. throughout the following century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay When the settlers first came ashore up the James River, they chose to settle in an infested swamp of mosquitoes carrying malaria, which contributed to the diseases to which the settlers were susceptible and therefore contracted. They also lacked provisions and food to sustain themselves during harsh winters, particularly during the winter of 1609–1610, known as the "famine period." Eventually, many settlers died of starvation, as well as endemic disease. According to Document A, George Percy states that the main cause of death in the Jamestown colony was starvation. In addition to starvation and disease, settlers encountered resentful and ruthless Native Americans whom the former had driven from their native lands. The Powhatans had initially achieved peace with the settlers through the truce efforts of John Smith; they provided the settlers with vegetables, fruits and other foodstuffs. Eventually, the settlers became less dependent and more aggressive toward the Powhatans. The Powhatans eventually attacked and besieged Jamestown, killing many animals and settlers. The settlers also lacked the leadership to keep them united throughout the colony's early years. The colonists had initially focused only on the search for gold and were not looking for raw resources and foodstuffs that could have helped them avoid starvation. Ultimately, the colony was saved when, in 1608, John Smith took charge of Jamestown. He instituted the rule that if a settler did not work, he would not be allowed to eat. Smith helped whip the settlers into shape at a time when they needed it most. Through Smith's leadership, Jamestown continued to persist. One of the greatest efforts of these Virginians to overcome the obstacles they faced was when John Rolf introduced tobacco to Jamestown. Tobacco became in demand in England and many Virginians took advantage of this opportunity to grow their own tobacco for export. According to document B., tobacco laid the foundations of the entire economy of the colony. The bitter plant grew in every garden in Jamestown, and within a few years it quickly evolved into miles of plantings throughout the.