Question

source: ivor noel hume, the virginia adventure, alfred a. knopf, 1994
in 1609 francis west and thirty - six men sailed up the chesapeake bay to try to trade for corn with the patawomeke indians ... although still part of powhatan’s confederacy, the tribe had seen less of the english than had those closer at hand and with luck might be more friendly. and so it proved.
though west was able to load his small ship with grain, the success involved “some harsh and cruel dealings by cutting of towe two of the salvages heads and other extremetyes.” the ship and her lifesaving cargo returned to jamestown... no one doubted that this new supply of grain would help, but it would not be enough to last the winter. on the other hand, decided the ship’s crew, it was plenty to get them fully home to england. so it was that francis west “by the perswasion or rather by the inforcement of his company hoysed up sails” and headed out into the atlantic, leaving the colonists to the indians and to god.
document analysis

1. is this a primary source or a secondary source?
2. why did francis west sail up the chesapeake?
3. is there any evidence that the english forced the indians to trade their grain?
4. what eventually happened to the shipload of grain?
5. how might the events described here relate to your findings in doc b?
6. in what ways can you use this document to help answer the question: early jamestown: why did so many settlers die?

Explanation:

1. This is a secondary source as it analyzes and describes historical events (Francis West's voyage) rather than being a firsthand account from the time of the events.
2. Francis West sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to try to trade for corn with the Patawomack Indians.
3. Yes, there is evidence. The text mentions "some harsh and [cruel] dealings by cutting of towe [two] of the Salvages heads and other extremetyes", suggesting forceful or violent means to get the grain, implying they forced the Indians to trade.
4. The shipload of grain was brought back to Jamestown, but it was not enough to last the winter. Then Francis West, with the ship's crew, decided to head back to England, taking the grain with them (as it was enough for them to get home).
5. Without knowing Doc B, we can infer it likely relates to challenges in early Jamestown. This document shows issues with food supply (grain not enough for colonists, crew takes it to England), which could relate to why settlers died (lack of food).
6. This document shows that food supply was a problem. The grain obtained was insufficient for the colonists to survive the winter, and the crew took the grain to return to England, leaving the colonists with less food. This lack of food is a factor in why many settlers died in early Jamestown.

Answer:

1. Secondary source.
2. To try to trade for corn with the Patawomack Indians.
3. Yes, due to "harsh and [cruel] dealings" like cutting Indians' heads.
4. Brought to Jamestown (insufficient for colonists' winter), then taken to England by West and the crew.
5. Likely relates to food supply challenges (grain issues) contributing to settler deaths (similar to Doc B's focus on Jamestown challenges).
6. Shows food shortage: grain was insufficient for colonists, crew took it to England, leaving colonists with less food, a factor in settler deaths.