Complex sentence: As a promoter of American colonisation, Smith did not placate his readers: he wished for potential colonists to be aware of the dangers that they faced, the work that colonisation would require, and the benefits that they stood to gain.
Split into simpler sentences: As a promoter of American colonisation, Smith did not placate his readers. He wanted potential colonists to be aware of the dangers that they faced, the work that colonisation would require, and the benefits that they stood to gain.