Difficulties that both the Jamestown and Plymouth colonies faced were hunger, disease and extreme environmental hazards. The settlers at Jamestown also suffered from poor relations with the indigenous native Americans, the absence of a family unit and overall inexperience
The Plymouth colony was founded in an area that was extremely cold and lacking in fertile soil. This meant that the colonists at Plymouth were unable to support and feed themselves using traditional large farming techniques. Half of the colonists died from malnutrition and disease during the first winter at the Plymouth colony.