Starving Time

Definition

The Starving Time refers to a period of severe famine and hardship experienced by the early English settlers at Jamestown, Virginia in the winter of 1609-1610. This crisis was a critical challenge faced by the English settlements in America during the early 17th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the Starving Time, the Jamestown colony's population dropped from around 500 to just 60 survivors.
2. Lack of food, disease, and attacks from local Native American tribes contributed to the high death toll during this period.
3. The settlers were unprepared for the harsh Virginia winters and struggled to grow enough food to sustain themselves.
4. Cannibalism was reported to have occurred as colonists resorted to desperate measures to stay alive.
5. The Starving Time was a major setback for the Jamestown colony, which nearly failed to survive its early years.

Review Questions

• Explain the causes and consequences of the Starving Time experienced by the Jamestown settlers.
  • The Starving Time was caused by a combination of factors, including the Jamestown settlers' lack of agricultural experience, the harsh Virginia winters, and attacks from local Native American tribes. With dwindling food supplies, the colony's population plummeted from around 500 to just 60 survivors, and there were even reports of cannibalism as the colonists resorted to desperate measures to stay alive. The Starving Time was a major setback for the Jamestown colony, which nearly failed to survive its early years due to this devastating crisis.
• Analyze the role of the Starving Time in the broader context of English settlement in America during the 17th century.
  • The Starving Time was a critical challenge faced by the early English settlements in America, particularly Jamestown, which was the first permanent English colony in North America. The crisis highlighted the difficulties the colonists faced in adapting to the unfamiliar environment and establishing a self-sustaining community. The high death toll and near-collapse of Jamestown during the Starving Time underscored the fragility of the English foothold in the New World and the need for better planning, resource management, and cooperation with local Native American tribes to ensure the success of future colonial ventures.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Starving Time on the development of the Jamestown settlement and the English colonies in America.
  • The Starving Time had a significant long-term impact on the Jamestown settlement and the broader English colonial enterprise in America. The crisis highlighted the need for better preparation, resource management, and cooperation with local Native American tribes to ensure the success of future colonial ventures. It also prompted the English to reevaluate their strategies and invest more resources in the Virginia colony, leading to its eventual growth and prosperity. The Starving Time served as a critical lesson for the English, shaping their approach to colonization and the establishment of successful settlements in the New World in the years and decades that followed.

Related terms

Jamestown Settlement: The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia.

Starvation: Extreme deprivation of food, leading to severe malnutrition, illness, and potentially death.

Colonial Virginia: The English colony established in 1607 that would eventually become the U.S. state of Virginia.