Historic Jamestown, Day 1

8/3/10 Historic Jamestown: What we are beginning to understand in a more complete way, what is imbued in our culture, and maybe the core of Americanism is this: business. The Virginia Company sent 104 men (only men plus a few boys) to trade, mine, look for gold, resources, and otherwise get the Indians out of the way to plunder and ship it all back to the Motherland.In fact, farming was discouraged at first in favor of trading with the Indians for food. I mean, why waste all that time farming, crafting, and building? Also, the Jamestown site had ample pitch and tar in the nearby swamps for repairing return boats bound back to England chock full of riches.Initially (the first few trips), the English came for one thing and one thing only-wealth. Business building was the seed, an integral seed, that influences our political, familial, geographic, and just about every American decision-no wonder we have done so well for ourselves. What other countries can say this, has this unique inception?

So, about religious freedom...we heard from Rachel Stanton, a living historian/actress playing the very lifelike role of an indentured servant in 1620 Jamestown.At first, up until 1619 and the first Assembly meeting, there was little freedom. For example, colorful ribbons and dice games were against the law, any kind of "frivolity" was forbidden. Puritanical laws, restrictions of freedom, and tight rules reigned the town. It was not the lawless, carefree adventure-land many people (maybe) envision.This Assembly in 1619 made other faiths possible and the rules loosened, but only to a point.Pastors took attendance, payments, and dished out consequences accordingly-that is not our idea of religious freedom. As a country, a young country, and a diverse country, there are many things not fully realized or hammered out yet, and I think religious freedom is one of them.

Rachel also described how the government (in its nascent form) helped protect and restrict them at the same time.This presents a good comparison and discussion about what governments can/should/could do for its citizens-yet another issue we continue to evaluate and modify as the world changes. We hope to explore this evolution of American ideas over time, especially how our 8th graders feel about them and how they will shape the evolution.

Other highlights from Historic Jamestown:
-geographic advantage of settling on a river
-raw past, the perils, hardships, and impossibility of it all
-indentured servants
-3 cultures: Europeans, Indians, Africans