Pocahontas Research Paper

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

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)

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

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

The colonists would capture his wife and nine-year old sold and sold them into slavery (Mass Moments 2011). The war was starting to come to an end, because of food shortages, diseases, and the Mohawk refusing to take part in the war (textbook). Metacomet’s resistance began to falter right in front of him. Metacomet was shot and killed in battle on August 12th 1676 by another Native American, John Alderman (Mass Moments 2011). Metacomet’s death was basically the finally to the brutal King Philip’s War. Colonists decapitated and quartered Metacomet’s body (Mass Moments 2011). The colonists placed his head on stake and marched through the streets of Plymouth for everyone to see, it remained for the public’s view for many years (Mass Moments

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.

Also, he was a supporter of members of the Free Will Baptist movement. He was kicked out by the Puritan leaders because they thought that he was spreading ideas which threatened the fragility of the Puritans. So, he began a colony known as Providence Plantation which was a refuge for religious minorities.

When John Rolfe moved to Virginia he met the daughter of Powhatan who was kidnapped by Jamestown settlers, but it never happened. Pocahontas later learned how to

William Bradford- was an English leader in the Plymouth Colony. He was also a signatory of the Mayflower Compact.

9.John Winthrop- The Massachusetts Bay Company planted a colony in New England given a royal charter but Winthrop(while in the company) wanted the company government and charter to transfer to America, other members agreed and he became the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the head among the Puritans there.

In 1638, Anne Hutchinson was brought to trial for challenging the ideals of Puritanism, after which she was banished and moved to Rhode Island and later New York where Indians killed her.

Massasoit was one of the people at the first Thanksgiving. Massasoit is the chief of the Wampanoag. Massasoit was born in 1590 near Bristol, Rhode Island and he died 1661 near Bristol, Rhode Island. Massasoit actually means “Great Sachem” or “leader.” His children are three sons and two daughters. There is a photo showing a Profile Rock in Assonet, Massachusetts in the 1902.

According to Chief Crazy Horse, Egloff, and most modern historians, following the alleged attempt on his life, Pocahontas did not fall in love with John Smith. Contrary to common belief, Pocahontas married the Indian Kocoum in 1610.

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)