Final answer:
John Smith was instrumental in the survival of Jamestown by implementing vital survival strategies and maintaining crucial relations with the Powhatan Confederacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Smith improved life in Jamestown by forming an alliance with the Powhatan Confederacy. As the leader of the colony, Smith implemented policies requiring all colonists to work for their food and improved infrastructure by digging wells for fresh water and building new housing. Moreover, he recognized the importance of maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Powhatan Confederacy, whose members taught settlers to grow corn, thus securing a more stable food supply. Smith's leadership was pivotal when the colony experienced crises such as food shortages and attacks by rats on their provisions, and his ability to manage relations with the Powhatan through both tough and diplomatic tactics was crucial for the colony's survival.