Pocahontas: Relationship Between The Powhatans And Settlers

It is thought that the Virginia Indians played a role in the location and survival of Jamestown. The English were in Powhatan 's territory, and the island had a natural defense from their enemies making it the safest place to be, even if it was not a geographically ideal location. Powhatan was considered one of the most powerful chiefs claiming to have over a hundred children. Powhatan died in 1618 and his brother, Opechancanough led an attack on the English in 1622 and 1644. Pocahontas would befriend John Smith and marry John Rolfe in 1613 resulting in a temporary peace between the Virginia Indians and the

Document D exhibits the fact that colonists tried to make a friendly relationship with the Powhatan Indians, who were originally the first explorers of early Jamestown, and although the Indians were unsure at first, the trade did still occur. Document D says, "Though West was able to load his [small ship] with grain, the success involved 'some harshe and [cruel] dealinge by cutting of towe [two] of the Salvages heads and other extremetyes.'” However, later in the year, the Powhatan's just blazed the trail, and on May 26th, 1607, the first attack of many to come arose. Unfortunately, two colonists passed away. From June to August, "At least 3 more die in Indian ambushes."

Pocahontas would be brought back into the picture after the English kidnapped her. She converted to Christianity and married John Rolfe, bringing peace between the two sides. Pocahontas would then be brought to England as an example of a “Savage” being turn to Christianity. After she dies, the peace between the Natives and the settlers slowly diminishes. In March 22, 1622, the Natives would attack the English, killing around 400 settlers. This attack backfires on the Native since the English would attack back more drastically. To end the book, Price talks about John Smiths life after Jamestown and his opinion on the settlement. The story also addresses the beginning of Slaves entry in America, which would be an important part in the history of America. This book overall informs us of early America history.

In May, the establishment of Jamestown was founded. The men relied on the Indians for food. The settlement suffered from the “starving period” without Powhatan’s help. The settlers held Pocahontas, Powhatan’s daughter, hostage to gain the upper hand in 1613. While they held her captive, she agreed to convert to Christianity and marry John Rolfe. (Norton)

It is said that there are many different versions to a story. There is one persons story, then there is an other person’s story, and then, there is the truth. “Our memories change each time they are recalled. What we recall is only a facsimile of things gone by.” Dobrin, Arthur. "Your Memory Isn't What You Think It Is." (online magazine). Psychology Today. July 16, 2013. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/am-i-right/201307/your-memory-isnt-what-you-think-it-is. Every time a story is told, it changes. From Disney movies to books, to what we tell our friends and colleagues. Sometimes the different sides to the story challenge the

In her early life, Matoaka was a Powhatan Indian. She was born around 1595. 12 years later, John Smith arrived on the shore of present day Virginia. He would help create Jamestown. This settlement was very close to the Powhatan tribe. In 1616, John Smith wrote a letter to Queen Anne stating

The Jamestown landing in 1607 was the first English settlement to be established in North America. In the movie “The New World” Hollywood attempted to tell the story of the Jamestown settlement and the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas. The movie’s portrayal of their relationship was one of two people falling in love. The historical facts of their relationship, however, paint a completely different picture. Hollywood failed to represent the truth and romanticized their relationship which was not one of love, but one of an acquaintance or friendship.

Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of Chief Powhattan, acted as the intermediary for Jamestown. Pocahontas was kidnapped and held for a ransom of captured English prisoners and weapons (“Jamestown and the Indians: The First Decade.”). When the tribe refused to pay the ransom, she agreed to marry John Rolfe and take the name Rebecca in order to gain her freedom (“Pocahontas.”). She played the role of diplomat and translator during negotiations with the Powhattan to obtain a truce that lasted until 1622 (“Pocahontas.”). As a way to promote their endeavors in the New World, The Virginia Company celebrated Pocahontas when she accompanied her husband to England (“Pocahontas.”). The role Pocahontas played helped the English gain an advantage in interactions with the Natives, but failed to diminish long term hostilities. In contrast, Massasoit acted as a voluntary intermediary with Plymouth. In 1620, Massasoit, wearing heavy red face paint and a beaded necklace, approached Plymouth accompanied by 60 of his men with goad of trading food for small trinkets (“Massasoit.”). On several occasions, Massasoit and his tribe saved Plymouth when the warned of impending attacks by other tribes, (“Massasoit.”). He even welcomed a starving religious renegade, Roger Williams, into his own house (“Massasoit.”). He acted

With this policy, the survival rate grew to nearly ninety percent that year. He organized successful trading with the Native American Powhattan. Smith was however captured by him and only spared when Powhattan’s daughter Pocahontas pleaded for his life. This is where the story of Pocahontas comes from. Smith wrote a letter about this encounter to Queen Anne when he heard of her coming to England years later. He wanted to ensure that she would not be treated as someone that could not be trusted. He wanted to show her loyalty to him and to England.

As young children we are often misled to believe that the stories and movies we are exposed to are presumably based on factual history, but are in reality myths, keeping the truthful, important, and fair facts hidden. Amonute is an accurate example of learning the real events that occurred in a person’s life while the typical myth of Pocahontas saved an Englishmen from being killed by her father. In the beginning of the book we are briefly introduced to Pocahontas, the Powhatan people and the English colonists. As the book continues we follow Pocahontas when she is kidnapped, her married life, and her trip to London where she got sick because of foreign illnesses and died. Camilla Townsends “Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma” wants Pocahontas’ true story to unfold because she is worthy of respect for her bravery and sacrifice and because “everyone subverted her life to satisfy their own needs to believe that the Indians loved and admired them” (Townsend, pg. xi). I also believe that the author was trying to argue that even though the Englishmen believed that the Native Americans were uncivilized and lived like savages, that instead they were wise people.

Pocahontas was born in 1595, with the given name of Matoaka and later got the nickname Pocahontas. She has been known as the favorite daughter of the powerful Powhatan Chief but she is also famous in history for contributing greatly toward the survival of the Jamestown colony. When the English colonists settled in Jamestown in 1607, there became tension between the Colonists and the Powhatan Indians. During the 1600s, the leader of the Colonists, Captain John Smith was caught by the Powhatan’s men. It has been said that Pocahontas saved Smith’s life and has had great influence on early relationships between the colonists and Indians. During Pocahontas’s life, she has faced many tragedies but triumphs have also played a role in her time.

Pocahontas was captured by Samuel Argall and during her captivity she became pregnant. The father was a mystery, but she was supposed to be marrying me. We got married on April 5, 1614 and then her baby was born on January 30, 1615. We were blessed with thousands of acres of land from Pocahontas’ father, Chief Powhatan. My wife, our baby, and I traveled to England on the ship, Treasurer, in 1616. Pocahontas was soon addressed by the name, Princess Pocahontas, because she was so widely respected. While in England, we visited Queen Anne and King James I. While in London, Pocahontas met John Smith who she thought was dead. We stayed and toured England for several months, and on our trip back home Pocahontas became very ill and died. I returned back to Virginia while Thomas, our son, stayed in England. I soon married the daughter of a colonist. Her name was Jane Pierce. Soon after we married, we had a daughter and named her Elizabeth. My house was on my tobacco plantation, and it was attacked by stupid Native Indians. I honestly don’t know why they hate me so much. It’s devastating. There, I was left stranded with no help, just lying in the grass. It’s my time to go…

In Virginia, 1624, some of the first North American had settled and began to build the colony of Jamestown. The voyage to the new world, which was supposedly only supposed to take around three months, ended up taking a staggering five months. As a result of this the Jamestown colonists used all of their reserve and emergency food, and landed in Virginia in late Fall, not in early Spring. The colonists died from lack of food and starvation, and had to result to cannibalism until John Smith was kidnapped by Powhatan, the leader of the local Native American tribe. Powhatan was supposedly going to “execute” John Smith until his twelve-year-old daughter, Pocahontas, saved him. Many historians believe that Powhatan did not abduct Smith to kill him but to show him his immense power. While Powhatan may have had positive intentions, John Smith clearly did not get the memo as he often called the native Americans “Savages” in his writings. Turning the other cheek to this hate, Powhatan gave Jamestown supplies and food to show his desire for an alliance between the Native Americans and the colonists.

He started scouting around and began drawing maps immediately. He met Pocahontas by almost shooting her by a water fall, and later they fell in love. He was captured later in the movie while venturing out alone at night to meet Pocahontas. John Smith was going to be executed on top of a rock at dawn, in front of an army of colonists who planned to rescue him. In reality, John smith was arrested and chained in irons during the voyage over, and he was released a month after arriving to Jamestown, Virginia. After he was set free, he did a lot of exploring and trading with the Indians. John Smith mapped most of the Jamestown area. He was eventually captured while seeking food along the Chickahominy River. John Smith was brought to Chief Powhatan and was sentenced to be executed. This is when he actually met Matoaka, the real name of Pocahontas, and she rescued him from execution. Matoake was the oldest daughter of Chief Powhatan. John Smith became good friends with Matoake, and eventually Chief Powhatan adopted Smith as his son. (Squidoo, Inc., 2012)

John Smith and Pocahontas did, in fact, meet and they did develop a kindly relationship. It is said that his love for her is what helped her negotiate the release of two Indian prisoners that John Smith had caught and he stated that “not only for feature, countenance, and proportion,” she “much exceeded any of the rest of Powhatan's people.” [4] It