There were many problems that caused mortality in Jamestown but there were some significant ones that were most detrimental. These problems were Jamestown’s drought, food shortages, and Indian attacks. All of these problems were brought onto the English due to Jamestown’s location.

To begin, Jamestown’s deaths were influenced by its calamitous drought. This drought was stated in the document “The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts” to have roughly started around 1607 and lasted until about 1613. The English relied greatly on the river and creeks for water as stated in the document “Jamestown Environment by Dennis B. Blanton”. They dug shallow wells to collect water from these creeks or river that were very vulnerable to drought and salt water intrusion. Due to this the English suffered severely when it the drought began. The English had little to no water to drink or use for farming. This led to many deaths from starvation and/or dehydration. That is how Jamestown’s drought influenced its mortalities.

Furthermore, Jamestown’s deaths were influenced by its food shortage. Jamestown did not have a surplus of food that the English could eat. This made them rely on fish which would come in great amounts but only during spring and early summer …show more content…
In the document “An Abundance of Blood Shed on Both Sides by the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography” it listed out the chronological events of the English mortality. In this document a huge contributor to the English mortality was the Indian attack. In 1607, the Indians attacked for James in May killing two people and then killed at least three more people in ambushes in June to August. This continued in 1609-1610 but killing around 130 men in ambushes. All of these deaths were due to the fact that the English chose to live where they lived which was surrounded by Powhatan tribes. That is how Jamestown’s Indian attacks influenced its