Establishing a Colony

You are the leader of a group of colonists who have come to the new world during the seventeenth century. You have sighted the coast and sailed along it for several days, finally dropping anchor in a quiet cove. There is a likely area for a colony just ashore and a small river flows into the sea here. The area does not appear to have any permanent settlements, but you have seen natives peering at your ship from ashore. You have not idea whether they are friendly or hostile.

You do not own your ship, but have hired the ship along with the services of its crusty old sea captain who wants to hurry you off his ship, so that he can return home to take on other cargos. A number of tasks face you. The following is a list of some of them. In what order should these jobs be done?

• _______ Send scouting parties to explore the surrounding area to be sure that the best possible site for a colony was chosen.

• _______ Find fresh water to replenish the ship's stores.

• _______ Send a group to try to meet with the natives who have been seen looking out from the shore.

• _______ Hold a meeting of all the colonists to decide on the rules of government for the new colony.

• _______ Land all passengers from the ship.

• _______ Pay the captain what is still owed him for the voyage.

• _______ Draft a letter to the patrons of the colony telling of your safe arrival and suggesting what you will do now.

• _______ Determine your exact location and how far your colony is from other new world colonies.

• _______ Build a stockade for defense.

• _______ Start building shelters for the colonists.

• _______ Plant crops.

• _______ Send out a hunting party to find fresh meat.

• _______ Disembark all passengers.

• _______ Unload all supplies

• _______ Plant the flag of your country on the shore claiming the land for your sovereign.

• _______ Hold a Thanksgiving celebration.