Jamestown colonists' relations with the Native Americans
When English settlers first arrived to
Jamestown, most of the Indian tribes in that region were part of the
Powhatan Empire. The relationship between the early settlers and the
Powhatan was very strange, as there were a lot of mixed feelings. In
the beginning, the Chief Powhatan treated the new comers with
hospitality, offering them food (Horn, 25) . The Powhatan Indians,
“from their political and economical base of Werowocomoco, enabled
the colony to stave off famine (Scham, 25). By providing them with
food, the Indians exchanged it for metal goods and implements
(Scham, 25). This The method for both sides created an unstable
alliance between the two. By 1609, John Smith explored and offered trade with local Indians, but his intentions were different, he wanted to treat these local Indians like slaves and work them (Lee, 701). After the failed attempt of negotiating with the Indians, he took what he wanted by force . The English was more into wealth and neglected planting for themselves, making their town less sufficient becoming more and more dependent of the Indians for food (Scham, 26). Instead, the English had “raiding parties”, where they would go and steal crops from the local tribes, this was known as the starving time (Scham, 28). This created a lot of hostility between the Powhatan tribe and the English settlers. Colonists ignored the misery they had brought onto the Powhatan people, and responded to violence with more violence. Chief Powhatan did lead a group of resistance, but he was not able to slow down the expansion of the white settlements (Lee, 701). This lead to the First Anglo-Powhatan war that went from 1610 till 1614, where English soldiers used terror tactics, burning down villages and town, and executing women and children (Lee, 703). Many tribes were wiped out while others were not able to recover from this attack, forcing them to abandon their town.
The English were able to capture Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan in and used her as hostage for their demands . While being under English captivity, Pocahontas met John Rolfe, who she later married. The marriage of Chief Powhatan's daughter was viewed as a diplomatic technique understood by both parties (Horn, 25). An overall peace and spirit of goodwill between the English and the Indians resulted from this marriage. The English used this as an opportunity to convert the natives into Christianity (Horn, 25). Virginia Company created a policy of conversion and education to accommodate the Indians into colonists' terms (Horn, 26). The Colony's leaders saw this as a sure sign that over time, all Powhatan people would become part of the church of England and convert to the English life style (Horn, 26).
Although the English thought that this peace would last forever, it soon ended when Chief Powhatan's younger brother, Opechancanough took over and became chief in 1618 (Lee, 704). He was suspicious of the English with land expansion and did not believe that maintaining peace with the English was possible (Lee, 705). In Spring of 1622, Opechancanough planned a number of surprised attack on English plantation and settlement, completely wiping out some of these settlements (Lee, 705). This was known as the Indian Massacre of 1622, where more than 350 men, women, and children were killed (Lee, 706). It was strategically planned for this to be during a normal day. A day when the Indians would already be on the English settlements, on personal or economic visits. When it was time, they would grab any weapon on English ground and attacked/ambushed the settlers (Lee, 706). However, Opechancanough did not finish off the colonies though, instead he called back his fighters, thinking the English settlers would pack up and leave, and realized how powerful the Pohatans are (Lee, 707).
The English were able to capture Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan in and used her as hostage for their demands . While being under English captivity, Pocahontas met John Rolfe, who she later married. The marriage of Chief Powhatan's daughter was viewed as a diplomatic technique understood by both parties (Horn, 25). An overall peace and spirit of goodwill between the English and the Indians resulted from this marriage. The English used this as an opportunity to convert the natives into Christianity (Horn, 25). Virginia Company created a policy of conversion and education to accommodate the Indians into colonists' terms (Horn, 26). The Colony's leaders saw this as a sure sign that over time, all Powhatan people would become part of the church of England and convert to the English life style (Horn, 26).
Although the English thought that this peace would last forever, it soon ended when Chief Powhatan's younger brother, Opechancanough took over and became chief in 1618 (Lee, 704). He was suspicious of the English with land expansion and did not believe that maintaining peace with the English was possible (Lee, 705). In Spring of 1622, Opechancanough planned a number of surprised attack on English plantation and settlement, completely wiping out some of these settlements (Lee, 705). This was known as the Indian Massacre of 1622, where more than 350 men, women, and children were killed (Lee, 706). It was strategically planned for this to be during a normal day. A day when the Indians would already be on the English settlements, on personal or economic visits. When it was time, they would grab any weapon on English ground and attacked/ambushed the settlers (Lee, 706). However, Opechancanough did not finish off the colonies though, instead he called back his fighters, thinking the English settlers would pack up and leave, and realized how powerful the Pohatans are (Lee, 707).
Sources
Horn, James. "The Founding of English America: Jamestown." OAH Magazine of History 25.1 (2011): 25-9. Print.
Lee, Wayne E. "Peace Chiefs and Blood Revenge: Patterns of Restraint in Native American Warfare, 1500-1800." The Journal of Military History 71.3 (2007): 701-41. Print.
Scham, Sandra. "A Native Take on Jamestown." Archaeology 59.1 (2006): 24-9. Print.
Lee, Wayne E. "Peace Chiefs and Blood Revenge: Patterns of Restraint in Native American Warfare, 1500-1800." The Journal of Military History 71.3 (2007): 701-41. Print.
Scham, Sandra. "A Native Take on Jamestown." Archaeology 59.1 (2006): 24-9. Print.