American History Tellers - Jamestown | The Great Reforms | 4

Episode Date: October 30, 2024

In April 1613, years of bloody warfare culminated in the kidnapping of the paramount chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas. The English colonists in Jamestown offered to return her in exchange for stolen weapons, English prisoners, and corn, but their proposal was met with silence.In the meantime, Pocahontas befriended English colonist John Rolfe. Rolfe poured his energy into cultivating a tobacco crop suitable for export, starting a tobacco revolution that would change Virginia forever.Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.Listen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Imagine this July 1613 in Oropax, a small outpost deep in the forest where your father, Powhatan, has recently moved his court. The afternoon sun beats down on your back as you pace outside his longhouse, waiting for him to finish meeting with his council. Your thoughts are consumed by your fears for your younger sister, Pocahontas. At last, the men file out and you duck your head to pass through the low doorway. As your eyes adjust to the dim interior, you find your father sitting on a woven reed mat. He's now in his seventies, but his formidable presence still fills you with awe.

Father. You also sit down on a mat, crossing your legs. His sharp gaze meets yours and he gestures for you to speak. Three months have passed since the English abducted Pocahontas, and still you refuse to respond to their demands. Isn't it time you bring her home? For a brief moment, a flicker of sadness crosses his face, but his expression quickly hardens.

I have no intention of giving up our English prisoners, or their weapons and tools in exchange for her release. I'm worried for Pocahontas's safety. Who knows what those men are doing to her? She's a clever, brave girl. She will survive. Don't you see we have a rare opportunity? As long as she stays close to the English commander,

she can gather information about their plans. Despite yourself, you feel a flush of anger rising in your chest. She's not a tool to be used. She's my sister, your daughter. How long do you plan to abandon her? My son, I love Pocahontas dearly, but I must put those feelings aside.

These are delicate times. As much as I want her back, I cannot have these strangers see me as weak. Too much is at stake. To surrender my trophies would be to admit defeat. And what of our people? What will they think to see you surrender your own daughter? Your father is shoulder-slumped. It's a rare glimpse of vulnerability. You're suddenly aware of how old he looks today.

He picks up his clay pipe, turning it over in his hands. Strength comes in many forms. We must be patient. His firm tone tells you that the conversation is over. So you rise to your feet and exit the longhouse. As the heat of the blazing sun envelops you once more, you're struck by the risk your father is taking. You know that the longer your sister remains captive, the more tenuous palatants hold over his own people will become.

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Visit audible.ca to sign up. ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] From Wandery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American History Tellers, our history, your story. ["The Star-Spangled Banner"] In April 1613, English colonists in Jamestown, Virginia abducted Pocahontas, the daughter of Paramount Chief Powhatan. They had hopes of making a deal

to end years of bloody warfare with the kidnapping, and the colonists offered her return in exchange for stolen weapons, English captas, and corn, but Powhatan refused to negotiate. Relentless raids and attacks had taken their toll on both the Powhatan and the English. The colonists needed to end the bloodshed if Jamestown was going to survive. They had staked life and limb to come to Virginia in pursuit of gold and profit. But six years after the founding of Jamestown, their existence remained precarious. Saving the colony from collapse would take radical reforms that would ultimately plant the seeds of American democracy. This is Episode 4, The Great Reforms.

By July 1613, Pocahontas had spent three months in English captivity before Powhatan finally responded to the colonists' demands. He sent seven English prisoners back to Jamestown with a handful of broken muskets. He offered the remaining guns, five hundred bushels of corn, and a promise of peace upon his daughter's safe return. But Jamestown's acting governor, Sir Thomas Dale, refused Powhatan's offer, insisting that Pocahontas would remain with the English until all weapons were returned. This demand was met by silence. By 1613, Powhatan's power was beginning to wane due to his failure to dislodge the English from

Virginia. Many of the tribes under his authority had grown weary of endless warfare, but Powhatan feared that surrendering the English weapons would be a show of weakness. And despite his desire to retrieve his daughter, he may have seen a strategic benefit to her abduction. He knew there was a chance she could be gathering valuable intelligence about the colonists. And indeed, while Pocahontas remained in captivity in the English settlement of Henrico, the colonists placed her in the care of a reverend who was tasked with converting her to Christianity and teaching her English. But Pocahontas was already acquainted with the colonists. As a young girl, she got to know John Smith when Powhatan placed him in captivity in the winter of 1607. And in the early years of English settlement, Pocahontas sometimes

traveled to Jamestown to take part in trade negotiations on her father's behalf. Now, six years later, while attending services in the Henrico Church, she became friendly with another Englishman. And for him, his relationship with Pocahontas triggered a profound crisis of conscience, causing him to question his deepest beliefs. Imagine it's February 1614, and you're in your church in Henrico, Virginia. The winter sun has already gone down and cold air seeps through the gaps in the wooden walls. You're hunched over a small table near the altar preparing the Sunday sermon. The meager flame of a flickering candle casts shadows on your papers.

You glance up to see John Rolfe enter the church. He's one of the most devout members of your congregation, and as he walks down the aisle, you notice the dark circles under his eyes. You close your Bible and put down your quill. John, what brings you here at this hour? Rolfe hesitates, rocking back and forth on his heels. Reverend, I need your counsel. I can see that. What troubles you? Rolf closes his eyes and swallows.

It's about Pocahontas. I find myself drawn to her. I wish to make her my wife. His words hang heavily in the air. He tried to control your expression so as not to betray your surprise. I see. You can see shame color Rolf's face. He casts his eyes downward.

I fear that I will provoke God's wrath, for Pocahontas is a heathen. How can I, a true Christian, possibly consider such a union? I understand your fears. But I have spent nearly a year teaching the girl English and the ways of our faith. I've seen her earnest desire to learn, her genuine curiosity about our Lord. She has demonstrated a willingness to embrace God.

But the Bible warns against marriage to strange wives. Would I not invite sin into my life if I were to marry her? You lean back in your chair considering his point and thinking of the opportunities a potential marriage would create. The Bible does caution against such unions. But consider this. You were created to labor in the Lord's vineyard

to sow and nourish its fruits. As long as Pocahontas renounces her people's gods and is baptized into our faith, I don't see why you should not marry her. There is no sin in guiding a willing soul towards the light of salvation. Relief now floods Rolf's face. He bows his head in gratitude.

Thank you, Reverend. I will seek Governor Dale's permission for the marriage. Remember, John. Pocahontas is not just any convert. She's the daughter of the Paramount Chief. Rolf nods his head and walks toward the door. You return to your sermon with a renewed sense of purpose, taking satisfaction in the knowledge that if this marriage takes place, you will finally begin to civilize this savage land. Like many of his fellow colonists, John Wolfe sailed to Virginia because he saw an opportunity to make a fortune. He arrived in Jamestown in 1610 as a member of the group of colonists who spent more than nine months shipwrecked in Bermuda

where his wife and newborn daughter died. After that he traveled on to Jamestown alone. He carried Caribbean tobacco seeds with him that were a sweeter variety than the tobacco native to Virginia, which one colonist described as poor and weak and of a biting taste, and by 1612 Rolfe had begun to plant the sweeter strain of tobacco in Virginia soil. As he experimented with his tobacco crop, the twenty-nine-year-old Englishman became close with Pocahontas, who was twelve years his junior. In a letter to Governor Dale, he declared, It is Pocahontas to whom my hearty and best thoughts are, and have been for a long time, so entangled and enthralled and so intricate and elaborate

that I could not unwind myself. But Rolfe was extremely pious. For weeks he agonized over his desire to marry Pocahontas, fearing he would provoke God's anger for wanting to wed a woman with manners he described as barbarous. Writing to Dale, he insisted that he was motivated not by the unbridled desire of carnal affection, but by the good of the colony, the honor of our country, and the glory of God. Pocahontas's feelings toward Rolfe remain a mystery. But after nearly a year in captivity, she had made up her mind to live with the English. No word had come from her father, Powhatan. He made no attempts to reclaim her, and she could not know what her future would entail. But she was aware that if she married Rolf, she would no longer be a pawn in negotiations

between her people and the English. But before Governor Dale would give his permission for the marriage, he wanted to break the deadlock with Powhatan. In late March 1614, he traveled to the Paramount Chief's residence in the town of Matchett with Rolf, Pocahontas, and another 150 armed colonists. As they sailed upriver, they encountered a hail of arrows. The English fought back, killing several warriors, burning nearby villages, and seizing corn. This show of force was a powerful reminder of the strength of English weaponry. And when the English arrived in Machet, two of

Pocahontas' brothers came forward and demanded to see their sister. They were relieved to find her unhurt. But Pocahontas was furious. She told her brothers that if her father had loved her, he would not value her less than old swords, pieces, or axes. And much to her brother's surprise, she then announced that she wanted to live with the English, declaring that they loved her. But despite the English desire to meet with Powhatan, he was away. So Rolfe and another Englishman went to meet with his brother, Oby Konkano. After negotiating, the two sides struck a peace deal. Oby Konkano promised to give the English corn and to return their weapons and tools within

fifteen days. And he agreed to allow Pocahontas to remain with the colonists. Surprisingly, when he heard of the deal, Powhatan soon sent word approving it. He knew he was not in a strong position to negotiate, as he was now in his seventies and he recognized that his power had dwindled. He wanted peace for his people. So days later, Pocahontas married John Rolfe in the Jamestown Church. She was baptized as Rebecca after the Biblical Rebecca described as the mother of two peoples. And with this marriage, five years of deadly and destructive warfare came to an end.

The English and Powhatan could now move forward without living in constant fear of attack, and the desire for peace extended beyond Powhatan's people as well. Soon after the wedding, an independent tribe, the Chickahominy, appealed to the English for peace as well, and a second deal was made. But continuing cultural and linguistic differences meant that Powhatan and the colonists had separate interpretations of their truths. From Powhatan's perspective, the peace agreement merely ended the war and signaled his reluctant acceptance of English occupation on some of his land. In his mind, his people were not a

conquered nation. But the English believed that they had finally subjugated the Indians. They controlled much of the land surrounding the James River. They had made peace with the Powhatan and the Chickahominy, and they were certain that the marriage of Rolfe and Pocahontas would pave the way for widespread conversion of the Indians to Christianity. So after years of hardship and war, the English could now focus on exploiting the land's precious resources, expanding their holdings, and finally turning a profit. John Rolfe was convinced that tobacco would become the cash crop that would put the colony on solid economic footing. Over the next two years, he focused on perfecting methods to grow and cure tobacco

so it could be transported to England without spoiling. Because since the late 1500s, the English market for tobacco had rapidly expanded, but both King James and the Virginia Company opposed the cultivation of tobacco in Virginia. The Virginia Company was determined to create a mixed economy in the colony and to not rely on a single crop, so they discouraged widespread tobacco planting. Nevertheless, Rolfe had faith that tobacco was the future. In order to promote this idea, in the spring of 1616, Rolfe and Pocahontas sailed to England with her infant son Thomas. The Virginia Company paid their expenses, hoping their visit would

drum up more investment in the colony. Rolfe carried samples of his tobacco with him too so he could market the crop to London merchants. And when they arrived in London, the couple was an instant sensation. The company outfitted Pocahontas in English clothing to symbolize her conversion to Christianity. High society flocked to catch a glimpse of the strange woman they saw as an Indian princess, and Pocahontas was swept up in a whirlwind of balls and dinners and even met the king and queen. Then, in the fall of 1616, the Rall family moved to rural Brentford, England, where Pocahontas briefly reunited with John Smith. They had not seen each other in at least seven

years since Smith's rivals exiled him from the colony. Ever since his return to London, he had made repeated attempts to return to Virginia, but had not succeeded. Virginia Company leaders also refused to re-employ him, blaming him for the colony's early struggles. He eventually gave up and turned his focus to exploring a different region, New England. By 1616, he was in the middle of planning a second expedition to Plymouth where four years later, Pilgrims sailing on the Mayflower would establish a colony in the name of Religious Freedom. But in his meeting with Pocahontas, Smith found her overcome with emotion. She had long

believed Smith to be dead, so was delighted to see him doing well, but she also chastised him for failing to honor the agreements he had made with her father. Ultimately, the two parted after an uncomfortable conversation, never to see each other again. Then a few months later, in March 1617, Pocahontas, Rolfe, and their sons set sail back to Virginia. But shortly after their departure, Pocahontas became ill. The family went ashore to the town of Gravesend, England, where Pocahontas soon died. After giving her a Christian funeral, Rolfe left their son in the care of a guardian and returned to Virginia alone. Back in Jamestown, he resumed his work cultivating tobacco. By the time he returned, tobacco farming had spread rapidly across the colony. The colonists had planted the crop wherever they could, even in Jamestown's streets and cemetery.

It was an indication that things were turning around for Jamestown. By that spring, a decade had passed since the colony's founding. And though the colonists had failed to fulfill their original goals of finding gold and a route to the Pacific Ocean, the region was at peace. The colonists were planting enough food to sustain themselves, and they had at last secured a firm foothold in Virginia. There were now six settlements, all specializing in the production of different crops and goods. Over the course of the decade, more than 1500 settlers had braved

the journey from England to Virginia. But by 1617, only 350 remained. So it was clear to Virginia company leaders that they would need to attract more settlers quickly, if the colony was going to last. Virginia was in dire need of radical overhaul, and it would be one that would come to shape America's future for centuries. For years, American scandal has taken you deep inside the biggest controversies and shocking events in U.S. history. And now you can listen to exclusive seasons on Wondery+. Go beyond the headlines with jaw-dropping stories and immersive reporting that unveils

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leave you wondering, how would you spend your last few minutes on Earth? You can binge Incoming exclusively and ad free and wonder E plus join wonder E plus in the wonder E app Apple podcasts or Spotify When John Rolfe returned to Virginia in May 16 17 He was joined by 150 new settlers the first large group to sail to the colony in six years. And they would become some of the first beneficiaries of a new Virginia Company policy expanding private land ownership to nearly every colonist. The policy was known as the Headright System. Designed by company treasurer Sir Edward Sands, the system granted 100 acres to each settler

who had arrived in Virginia before 1616, known as ancient planters. For those who arrived after 1616, the company assigned 50 acres to each person who paid his or her own way to Virginia and another 50 acres for each additional person they brought along. Before, the company owned land directly or granted tracks to groups of wealthy investors in the form of plantations, but now cheap land directly or granted tracks to groups of wealthy investors in the form of plantations, but now cheap land was widely available to ordinary people. This expansion of English settlement would mean more encroachment on Powhatan land, but Sands hoped that guaranteed land ownership would attract thousands of new men and women

to the colony, people who were needed to exploit Virginia's land and natural resources to their full extent. So this head-right system was formalized in the company's new charter and approved by the king in November 1618. But Sands still feared that the colony's martial law regime discouraged potential settlers. He knew the famously draconian legal code was at odds with the laws and liberties that prevailed in England, so in late 1618 he and his colleagues instructed colony leaders to establish a laudable form of government and introduce just laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people. The colonists would now be allowed to elect their own General Assembly, which would have full authority to enact laws on all matters concerning the

colony, subject to veto by the colonial governor and company officials. These changes became known as the Great Reforms and aimed to establish an effective government and civil society grounded in the rule of law with a respect for private property and political freedoms for white men. Company leaders envisioned a model commonwealth that would promote the common good of people from all walks of life. Company leaders envisioned a model commonwealth that would promote the common good of people from all walks of life. It would be a diverse and harmonious society in which white farmers, laborers, and servants would live side by side with converted Indians. And the first step was to allow the colonists to have a hand in governing themselves.

And in the sweltering heat of the summer of 1619, two events took place in Jamestown that would forever alter the course of history. On July 30, 1619, the first representative body in the Western Hemisphere convened in the choir of the Jamestown Church. The company-appointed governor joined 22 elected representatives chosen by free white men from across the colony. two elected representatives chosen by free white men from across the colony. Together they agreed to a set of procedures and heard various complaints and petitions. They debated recommendations for encouraging the paladin to convert to Christianity, ordered all settlers to attend church on the Sabbath, and set the price of tobacco. Then they laid down rules against excessive drinking and gambling.

After six days they concluded their business and gambling. After six days, they concluded their business and adjourned for the year, having inaugurated a new era of self-government in America. Virginia's General Assembly has met continuously ever since this moment. Then in late August 1619, just a few weeks after the General Assembly's first meeting, a battered English privateer ship called the White Lion docked at Point Comfort at the mouth of the James River. While sailing in the Caribbean, the White Lion and its sister ship the Treasurer had battled a Portuguese slave ship bound for Mexico. The privateers plundered the slave ship and carried off dozens of enslaved men and women

who had been kidnapped by Portuguese slave traders in Angola. When the White Lion docked at Jamestown, John Rolfe noted the arrival of twenty and odd Negroes who were brought ashore. The crew of the White Lion traded these men and women to Virginia's governor and another official in exchange for provisions. A few days later, the other ship, the Treasurer, briefly stopped at Point Comfort and possibly sold additional captives. These men and women were the first enslaved people to be forcibly transported to mainland English America. Many of these Africans were sold to wealthy planters scattered throughout the James River Valley,

and in the years that followed, slavery would develop slowly in Virginia. By 1620, there were 32 recorded Africans in the colony. Five years later, there were only 23. And for decades, the number of white indentured servants dwarfed the number of enslaved people, so it was not until the end of the century that racial slavery would become entrenched. But the men and women who came ashore in 1619 were the first of hundreds of thousands sold into slavery in English-speaking America. So over the course of a few weeks in the summer of 1619, Jamestown saw the birth of American democracy and the start of American slavery. From the beginning, American freedom and self-government

were haunted by human bondage and exploitation. But the colonists had little knowledge of the significance of these events. At the time, the Virginia Company was focused on the short term. The great reforms had their intended effect, sparking an influx of new settlers. And by early 1620, there were 1200 colonists living in more than two dozen settlements along the James River, with the Virginia Company allocating tens of thousands of acres to colonists. At the same time, tobacco strengthened its hold on the colony. One colonist commented,

"...all our riches for the present do consist in tobacco." Because in 1620, 40,000 pounds of tobacco were exported to England. Two years later, farmers exported 50% more. So finally, after years of struggle, the colonists had found a reliable source of profit. And peace had still prevailed ever since the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Powhatan had died in 1618, and his warrior brother Opeconcano became paramount chief. But Opeconcano was far more friendly in his relations with the English than his brother, at least outwardly. He even expressed interest in learning about Christianity.

In January 1622, one of Jamestown's leaders informed the Virginia Company that the colony was in very great amity and confidence with the natives. But resentment still simmered beneath the surface. Over the years, Opie Conano and his people had watched as the English appropriated more and more land for tobacco cultivation. The surge of newcomers had depleted Virginia's resources. So the great warrior bided his time, quietly crafting a plan to punish the English for the land they had stolen. Ever since war ended in 1614, the English had grown accustomed to the Powhatan people coming and going from their settlements. Many embraced the Indians, trading with them and employing them to work on their farms.

Some had even taken in young Indian children and converted them to Christianity. Opey Conkino would use this familiarity to his advantage as he put a plan into motion to drive the English from his dominions once and for all. Imagine it's the night of March 21, 1622. You're in the sitting room of your tobacco plantation on the James River, just across from Jamestown. You pull yourself out of your favorite chair by the hearth, grab an iron rod and stir the ashes of a dying fire. Just as you're beginning to ponder going to bed, a soft creak from the doorway catches your attention.

You crane your neck to see the teenage Indian boy you've taken in and converted to Christianity. He stands hesitantly in the doorway, so you beckon him closer. What's wrong, William? He takes a step forward. His eyes are wide and he's biting his nails. You sigh. I told you to stop that nasty habit. Come in and spit it out, boy. He quickly removes his hand from his mouth and then swallows hard.

I'm sorry to bother you, sir. It's just that, well, my brother visited tonight. And? What did he want? He said... he said he wants me to kill you. Your legs get wet and you collapse back into your chair, staring at him in shock. What? Why would he say such a thing? Is he still here? I'll have him thrown in jail for such talk. The sheer impudence.

William shakes his head fervently. No, sir. He's gone. But he said the command came from our king. From Opie Cancano. What are you talking about? Opie Cancano is a friend of the English. You're not making any sense. The boy shifts uncomfortably, avoiding your gaze. Tomorrow at dawn, Opie Canc and those warriors are going to attack.

I don't believe it. It's true, sir. They've been planning this for a long time. But where are they going to attack? Everywhere. You feel as though the ground has shifted beneath your feet. Are you sure? Yes, sir.

They've been making plans in secret. It's all been decided. Terror courses through you, cold and paralyzing. and for a moment you're unable to move, unable to think. You take a deep breath, trying to steady your racing pulse. Go to bed. Lock the door and stay inside. With a nod, William scurries out of the room.

You grip the armrests of your chair and turn to stare at the dying embers in the fireplace. But as you look up at the clock on the mantle, you know you're running out of time. You need to alert the governor as fast as possible. So you rush out of the room, furious with yourself for being so naive. You trusted these people. You believed they could change. Now you realize that that belief may cost you everything. Now you realize that that belief may cost you everything. On the evening of March 21, 1622, an Indian boy living on a James River plantation warned his master of Obe-Kankano's plans to attack the English. The planter rode across the river to alert the colony's governor, who quickly mounted a defense for Jamestown itself, but it was too late to warn the other settlements. At dawn, hundreds of Powhatan gathered in plantations and settlements

up and down the James River. They carried deer, fish, furs, and other goods to trade, just like any typical visit, but they were not there to trade. Instead, they took up the settlers' own tools and weapons, and as the sun rose over the valley, the killing began. The Powhatan marched into homes, yards, and fields. They surprised the unsuspecting settlers at their breakfast tables and barns, wielding knives, axes, and farm tools. Over the course of the day, the Powhatan brutally massacred 347 people, nearly one-third of the total English population of Virginia.

Opie Kankano's goal was to kill as many men, women, and children as possible, and he largely succeeded. Then, as the remaining English fled in panic, Opie Kankano's warriors moved in and set fire to the settlements. Jamestown was unscathed, but the others were left in ruins. The colonists had underestimated the Powhatan in the depths of their resentment toward the English. They had suffered a devastating blow. But rather than flee, the colonists resolved to mount their revenge. I'm Tristan Redmond, and as a journalist, I've never believed in ghosts. But when I discovered that my wife's great grandmother was murdered in the house next

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When Opie Concano launched his plot, he likely did not expect to expel the English from Virginia in a single day. But he did hope that by destroying their farms and food supplies, they would be so weakened that they would feel no alternative but to abandon the colony, as they always did during the starving time in 1609. But instead of giving up, the Virginia Company sent more settlers and more armor and weapons to the colony. They abandoned their previous goals of conversion and friendship for a new objective, eliminating the Palatin from Virginia entirely. Company leaders declared, abandoned their previous goals of conversion and friendship for a new objective, eliminating the Powhatan from Virginia entirely. Company leaders declared, let them have a perpetual

war without peace or truce. So in the summer and fall of 1622, English raiding parties sailed up and down the rivers of Tidewater, Virginia, torching Powhatan villages, stealing their corn and burning their fields. The Powatine responded with their own raids and attacks. Then a disappointing fall harvest caused severe food shortages, forcing the English to endure a second starving time that winter. The company sent hundreds of new settlers to replace those who died in Opeconquino's attack, but these newcomers brought scurvy, dysentery, and other diseases to the colony. And as hundreds more colonists succumbed to disease, one Englishman wrote, We live in the fearfullest age that Christians ever lived in.

So Opeconcano held out hope that the rising death toll might finally convince the English to give up on Virginia. But in the spring of 1623, the colonists came up with a plan to lure their enemies into a trap. In May, English soldiers traveled to Pamunkey territory to rescue a dozen captives. After securing their release, they distributed wine for a toast in the name of peace and friendship. But the wine was poisoned and as many as 200 Indians fell sick. Then the English attacked, killing dozens. The following year, the English fought elite Pamunkey warriors in a decisive two-day battle that ended with the Pamunkey retreating.

Fighting would continue for another eight years, but the balance of power had shifted in favor of the English. The defeat of the Pamunkey marked the first step in the fall of the Powhatan Empire. But while war raged in Virginia, across the Atlantic, the Crown was investigating reports of the Virginia Company's mismanagement. Company leaders were feuding amongst themselves, and Crown officials worried that the massacre of 1622 had revealed the Company's inability to defend its interests, and the King vowed to intervene to save the colony from destruction. Imagine it's October 1623 in Jamestown, Virginia. You're the colonial governor, and you're

walking through the center of town with Captain John Harvey, the head of a commission sent by the Crown to investigate your colony. You dodge a muddy puddle and glance sideways at Harvey's stern expression. My colleagues and I have reviewed a mountain of evidence. the crown to investigate your colony. You dodge a muddy puddle and glance sideways at Harvey's stern expression. My colleagues and I have reviewed a mountain of evidence, official company records, eyewitness accounts and the testimony of dozens of former planters and merchants. All of it has painted

a grim picture. The Virginia Company is practically bankrupt. And now that I'm here, well, I'm sorry to say that the conditions on the ground are far worse than I expected. You sigh, shaking your head. I disagree, Captain. The colony is improving every day. Just look at our profits from tobacco exports. Yes, tobacco is doing well. But you must acknowledge that efforts to create a diverse economy have failed. Look around you."

He gestures to a row of dilapidated homes held up by rotting timber. These houses are little more than shanties. The people are malnourished and the Indian attacks have not stopped. You nod, conceding the point. Last winter was hard. Harvey stops in his tracks and turns to face you. From what I've heard, the summer was even worse. A sudden wailing pierces the air. Across the street a carpenter delivers a coffin to the Smithy. A woman stands

out front weeping. Harvey's eyes follow your gaze. Who is she? What happened to her? That's Anne, the blacksmith's wife. Her husband died last night. Harvey's face hardens. How many people have died in the last year? You scratch your beard and look down at the ground. It's difficult to say. How many? You sigh again and reluctantly meet his gaze. Perhaps one thousand?

But the circumstances were unique. I have every confidence that things will turn around soon. Harvey closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. I cannot in good conscience recommend that the Virginia Company continue to oversee the affairs of this colony. Please. We are making progress. We just need time. I'm sorry, but the evidence of mismanagement is overwhelming. With a curt nod, Harvey turns on his heel and walks away. You fear that despite your best efforts,

your time as governor will soon be over. And what's worse, the dream of a prosperous Virginia seems to be slipping away. In May 1623, the Crown formed a commission to investigate the Virginia Company. Five months later, four Crown-appointed inspectors traveled to Virginia to assess the colony firsthand. Their findings were damning. They discovered that of the 6,000 people who had sailed from England since 1607, only 1,200 were still alive.

In the previous year alone, at least 1,000 colonists had perished. The company was bankrupt, and efforts to diversify the colony's economy had failed. Public works were crumbling, and Indian attacks persisted. The commissioners concluded that the colonists live for the most part in great want and misery. After reviewing this evidence, King James asked his attorney general to sue the Virginia Company. And on May 24, 1624, the court sided with the Crown and revoked the Company's charter.

The Crown then assumed direct control of the colony and the Virginia Company collapsed. It was the end of seventeen years of struggle. During that time, most of the company's investors lost their capital, and most of the settlers who ventured to Virginia lost their lives. But the colony the Virginia Company founded lived on, though it remained unstable. War with the Powhatan continued until 1632, when by then the English had expelled all Indians from the peninsula between the James and York rivers. And despite continually high death rates, the population slowly grew. Roughly 1,000 new settlers arrived in Virginia every

year, each one of them risking their life in search of economic opportunity. And in the end, it was tobacco that was Virginia's salvation. Exports of tobacco increased dramatically from 300,000 pounds in 1630 to 1 million in 1640 to almost 30 million pounds by the end of the century. But tobacco was a labor-intensive crop. The tobacco economy was powered at first by the labor of white indentured sermons and then later by enslaved Africans. And these dynamics meant that a very different type of society than Jamestown's founders envisioned was growing in Virginia. Efforts to produce a variety of goods for export failed.

Wealth and political power were concentrated in a small group of planters who relied more and more on slavery to increase their profits. Meanwhile, England would go on to claim more land than Jamestown's founders ever imagined. Over the course of the 17th century, colonization spread far beyond just Virginia. The transatlantic trade in tobacco and other commercial goods fueled an explosive growth in population and wealth in English colonies up and down the eastern seaboard of North America. But colonization exacted a heavy toll. The hostilities between the English and the Powhatan marked only the start

of a legacy of violence, exploitation, and theft that devastated native populations not just in Virginia, but across the continent. And as the decades passed and slavery became entrenched, colonization condemned generations of black men, women, and children to bondage. Against all odds, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America that lasted. Had it not survived, English colonization of America may have been abandoned, and English language,

laws, and customs may not have spread across the continent. But Jamestown was not just the birthplace of America may have been abandoned, and English language, laws, and customs may not have spread across the continent. But Jamestown was not just the birthplace of America because of the cross English settlers planted in the ground in the spring of 1607, or because of their perseverance through starvation, shipwreck, violence, and disease. The experiences of the early colonists set a complicated pattern that endured, when marked by the relentless pursuit of land and profit, the flowering of democracy, and the oppression of Indians and enslaved Africans. On the banks of the James River, two civilizations collided, and a new one was forged. From Wandery, this is episode four of our four-part series, Jamestown for American History Tellers. In the next episode, I'll speak with Dr. James Horn, President and Chief Officer of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. We'll

talk about the life and legacy of one of the Powhatan leaders, Mopi Kankano, and his years of resistance to the encroachment of the Jamestown colonists. If you like American History Tellers, you can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at Wondery.com slash survey. American History Tellers is hosted, edited, and produced by me, Lindsay Graham for Airship.

Audio Editing by Christian Peraga. Sound Design by Molly Bogg. Music by Lindsay Graham. Voice Acting by Joe Hernandez-Kolski. This episode is written by Ellie Stanton. Edited by Dorian Marina. Produced by Alita Rozanski. Managing Producers are Desi Blaylock and Matt Gant.

Senior Managing Producer Ryan Lohr. Senior Producer Andy Herman. Executive Producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Lewy, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondering. In November 1991, media tycoon Robert Maxwell mysteriously vanished from his luxury yacht in the Canary Islands. But it wasn't just his body that would come to the surface in the days that followed. It soon emerged that Robert's business was on the brink of collapse and behind his facade of wealth and success was a litany of bad investments, mounting debt, and multi-million dollar fraud.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery Show Business Movers. We tell the true stories of business leaders who risked it all, the critical moments that define their journey, and the ideas that transform the way we live our lives. In our latest series, a young refugee fleeing the Nazis arrives in Britain determined to make something of his life. Taking the name Robert Maxwell, he builds a publishing and newspaper empire that spans the globe. But ambition eventually curdles into desperation, and Robert's determination to succeed turns

into a willingness to do anything to get ahead. Follow Business Movers wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen ad-free on the Amazon Music or Wondry app.