native America Essay

Submitted By baotong
Words: 803
Pages: 4
Open Document
Native Americans living in the vicinity of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement on the North American continent, were members of a confederacy of over 30 Algonquian tribes living in about 200 villages. Chief Wahunsonacock [Wa hun SEN a cawh], who was called Powhatan [pow HAT tan] by the English, was the dominant leader of over 10,000 Indi- ans in the region. Before the English arrived Spanish explorers had attempted to form settle- ments along the Chesapeake in Virginia and had gone to war with the Indians. For this reason Powhatan’s confederacy attacked one of the English ships before it could land at Jamestown. Although suspicious of the English settlers, Powhatan sensed that he had nothing to fear as the English settlers dashed around searching for gold rather than providing for necessities.John Smith meeting with the Powhatans near Jamestown Library of Congress
Pocahontas
Powhatan agreed to trade with the colo- nists but as other colonists arrived later that year the English began to demand more and more food. Captain John Smith who assumed leadership of the colony tried to establish trade with the Indians. Smith believed that the English colonists should live like soldiers and force the Indians to supply them the food they needed. When Powhatan re- fused to continue trading with the En- glish, Captain Smith took food from the Indians by force. On one raid in De- cember 1607 only a few months after arriving, Captain Smith was captured and brought to Powhatan.
Powhatan ordered that Captain Smith be killed. According to legend Powhatan’s favorite daugh- ter Pocahontas, who was about 12 years old, threw herself on the prisoner to save him. Some historians believe that Powhatan arranged a fake execution in order to show his power and impress the English with his mercy. It is commonly believed that this was Powhatan’s way of using Smith’s capture and release to get better relations with the English and stop the raids on his confederation. The colonists, on the other hand, believed that Smith had been saved by God intervening to direct Pocahontas, out of her love for the English, to stop the execution.Powhatan Speaks to Captain John Smith, 1609
Primary Source1
Captain Smith, you may understand that I having seen the death...of my people...I know the difference of Peace and War better than any in my Country. ...What will it avail you to take ... by force what you may quickly have by love... What can you get by war, when we can hide our provisions and fly to the woods... Think you I am so simple, not to know it is better to eat good meat, ...sleep quietly..., laugh and be merry with you...then be forced to flee from all, to lie cold in the woods, feed upon Acorns, roots, and such trash, and be so hunted by you, that I can neither rest, eat, nor sleep....Let this therefore assure you of our loves, and want of that, every year our friendly trade shall furnish you with Corn; and now also, if you would come in friendly manner to see
Show More

Related Documents: native America Essay

Essay on Native and European Relations in Early America

interaction, the social and political relations between the Native Americans and the Europeans had begun with much tension. Many Europeans came to the Americas with the intention of discovery. However, when it became apparent that these new lands were inhibited the motives changed, and then the natives were colonized, abused, and in many cases killed. From then and throughout the impending periods of time, the relations between the natives and the Europeans had a few points of mutual peacefulness…

Words 1425 - Pages 6

Non-Native Americans: The Myth Of Offshore America

concept of “offshore America” refers to the idea that while the United States has its own national identity, the rest of the world is constructing their own idea of what America is. Although Native American tribes that are recognized by the government are considered citizens of the United States, there is still an invisible barrier that divides Native Americans from the rest of the country. This barrier has left not only Native Americans constructing their view of what America is, it has left the…

Words 695 - Pages 3

Philbrick: Relationship Between The Colonists And Native America

States history. From then on, it was the introductory duration of mutual companionship between the Natives and the Colonists that forever changed history across both sides. Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, shows how the relationship between the Plymouth colonists and the Native American started off friendly but begins to steadily worsen as time goes on. Upon the first contacts, relations between the Natives and the Colonists were friendly. Apparently, enjoying the fuss he had created, the Indian saluted…

Words 352 - Pages 2

Essay on Was Disease the Key Factor to the Depopulation of Native Americans in the Americas?

Was disease the key factor in the depopulation of Native Americans in the Americas? Was disease the key factor in the depopulation of Native Americans in the Americas? There can be no denying that disease played its role in the depopulation of the Americas. Populace tribes went from tens of thousands to hundreds in a matter of years. But the question here is was it the “key” factor or did something else cause their demise? "European opinion ran the gamut from admiration to contempt; for…

Words 957 - Pages 4

Facing East From Indian Country: A Native History Of Early America

Daniel K., Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2001. Throughout history several scholars have attempted to revamp the historical significance of how America arose. Daniel F. Richter is a leading historian as well as a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania and is the Director of its McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Professor Richter’s changed the view of how Native American’s became an imperative fact within…

Words 1209 - Pages 5

Disease In The Columbian Exchange

Disease and epidemics have challenged the human population for millennia. How has disease in the Columbian Exchange affected the Americas? The question is not if disease was transferred from Europe to the Americas, but rather, what were the effects of those diseases on the Americas. “When the isolation of the New World was broken, when Columbus brought two halves of this planet together, the American Indian met for the first time his most hideous enemy: not the white man nor his black servant, but…

Words 1189 - Pages 5

Columbian Exchange Research Paper

The Columbian Exchange was a maritime trade network that transferred plants, animals, and people and connected Afro-Eurasia and the Americas. Europeans desired to expand their empires and riches over new lands, and technological advancements such as the astrolabe and the compass helped settlers’ exploration. However, Europeans faced backlash from certain traders when they attempted to expand their trade. For example, competition grew between Muslim traders in Oman and Portuguese traders when the…

Words 862 - Pages 4

Social And Economic Causes Of The Columbian Exchange Essay

From 1491 to 1607, the arrival of the Europeans was prompted by social, political, and economic factors. Religious freedom was a main social incentive for colonization. The Huguenots, for instance, attempted to establish a religious refuge in North America. Also, because many lands in England were “enclosed,” thousands of families were left in search of employment and homes, and American colonization offered an alternative to homelessness. Political motivated European nations desired more territory…

Words 593 - Pages 3

Coming Of Age In The Dawnland Summary

European immigration in America has changed many aspects of the land. It has altered the population, culture, and inhabitants of America immensely. Overall, the impact that European immigrants had was negative. The traditions and customs of the native communities began to quickly disappear due to the immigration of Europeans to America. Due to the Europeans migrating to America, the identity of the Native Americans has since deteriorated. The natives’ association with the European immigrants resulted…

Words 554 - Pages 3

Chapter 2 Essay

The Europeans have been coming to the Americas since the late 1400s. As time passed, the big nations in the European continent ended up colonizing the Americas. The big nations that included France, England, Portugal, Spain, and the French decided the Americas were useful for more than just colonization; they were useful for resources and new ideas. There were trade between the Natives and Europeans that caused big epidemic problems, colonization that led to new races, different economical ideas…

Words 1190 - Pages 5