USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Jamestown, Virginia, was the site of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The settlers chose a location close to the water, hoping to establish a thriving community.

Detailed explanation-2: -The forests were filled mostly by hardwood trees. Walnut, beech, oak and hickory trees covered the low-lying land. In 1607, Jamestown’s tidal wetlands looked much like the tidal wetlands of today. The sea level, however, was about 3 feet (0.91 meter) lower than now, exposing more land.

Detailed explanation-3: -It was marshy, infested with mosquitos, and without reliable water. For the James River flows slowly in the best of times, and during the summer did not contain enough water to prevent the brackish upflow of the Chesapeake from reaching the colonists.

Detailed explanation-4: -Jamestown was surrounded by water on three sides (it was not fully an island yet) and was far inland; both meant it was easily defensible against possible Spanish attacks. The water was also deep enough that the English could tie their ships at the shoreline-good parking!