Question

Question

What caused more than half the colonists to die during the settlement of Jamestown?
Responses

a lack of new supplies from England
a lack of new supplies from England

a lack of preparation for cold winters
a lack of preparation for cold winters

dirty water and bad food
dirty water and bad food

attacks by Native Americans

Answer 1

The primary cause of the high mortality rate among the Jamestown colonists was dirty water and bad food. The settlement was built near stagnant water, which contributed to the spread of disease. Additionally, poor nutrition and inadequate supplies further exacerbated the situation, leading to a significant number of deaths in the early years. While other factors like attacks by Native Americans and lack of supplies also played a role, the immediate health issues from contaminated water and poor food were critical.