Virginia Company Threats: Anticipated Dangers and Challenges
Final answer:
The Virginia Company was faced with threats from the Powhatan natives, internal disputes, health issues due to lack of food, and the inability to find gold and silver resources.
Threats Faced by the Virginia Company
The Virginia Company, founded in 1606, embarked on the establishment of a colony in North America with several anticipated threats in mind. Among the challenges they faced were:
1. Powhatan Native Resistance:One of the primary threats to the Virginia Company was the resistance from the Powhatan natives who inhabited the region. The Powhatan tribes were not welcoming to the settlers and posed a significant challenge in terms of establishing peaceful relations and securing the colony.
2. Internal Disputes and Infighting:Another threat came from within the settlers themselves. Internal disputes, rivalries, and jealously among the colonists created a destabilizing environment that hindered the progress and security of the colony.
3. Health Issues and Lack of Food:The lack of essential resources like food posed a grave threat to the Virginia Company. Malnutrition and diseases spread rapidly among the settlers due to insufficient provisions, leading to a high mortality rate and weakened workforce.
4. Absence of Precious Metal Resources:The initial hope of finding gold and silver resources in the colony proved futile for the Virginia Company. The absence of these valuable minerals meant that they had to seek alternative sources of income and trade to sustain the venture.
Anticipated vs. Actual Threats
While the Virginia Company anticipated conflicts with Native Americans and rival European powers, the actual threats that unfolded revolved more around survival in a harsh environment, diseases, and struggles for basic necessities. The challenges faced by the company forced them to adapt and focus on alternative means of sustenance, such as tobacco cultivation, shifting their priorities from mineral resources to agriculture.