John Smith and Powhatan’s Tribe

 Born in 1580 in England.  At the age of 16, he left England to become a soldier and “pirate for hire”.  Traveled to Austria, Turkey, and North Africa before he returned to England.  Arrived in Jamestown after being asked to help run the new colony by the investors.

 After arriving, things quickly started to go wrong:  The current President died, and the next 2 were so awful that they were kicked out of office.  Smith helped stop many plots the leaders created to leave Jamestown and it’s people in despair.  Smith helped to rebuild Jamestown into a well- working society with good relationships with the surrounding Native American tribes.

 Powhatan was the King of the Werowocomoco tribe just outside of Jamestown.  When Smith was sent out to discover the land, his two companions were killed and he was captured by the tribe.  As Powhatan was ready to kill Smith, his 13 year old daughter, Pocahontas, stepped in and begged for his salvation with her own life.  This was really the only interaction between Smith and Pocahontas that is supported, Pocahontas moved to England as an adult and married a different Englishman, and changed her name to Rebecca.

 Notice how Smith writes about himself in the third person, as though he were not really part of the events that occurred.  Does this change your views about the story?  Many people believe that Smith elaborated many of the details in the story. Smith was known for being dramatic, and this led to many people finding it hard to take his full account as complete and factual.