Wahunsenacah and the Powhatan
The Powhatan homelands are in the Chesapeake Bay near present-day Virginia. At the time of first contact with Europeans in the 16th century, it is estimated that the Powhattan had a population of between 13,000 and 34,000 separated into approximately 30 different tribes.
“The formalize modes of address that Native Americans used in their early encounters with European were often lavishly described in exploration narratives. One reasons such scenes were central in Renaissance-era accounts is that the writers were imitating classical historiography, with its emphasis on oratory. As set pieces in their narratives, the writers included moving and aesthetically pleasing speeches based more or less loosely on memory and other sources. ‘Powhatan’s Discourse of Peace and War,’ by John Smith, and ‘King Philip’s Speech,’ by William Apess, are reconstructed works that provide narrative drama in their original contexts and stand alone as effective examples of Native eloquence” (Levine, 30).
Smith’s response: to refrain from colonizing America would constitute “neglect of our duty and religion” as well as as “want of charity to those poore Savages” (4)
ONE: We are bringing them Christianity: “God did make the world to be inhabited with mankind, and to have his name knowne to all Nations, and from generation to generation.”
TWO: They’ve got more land than they need: “here in Florida, Virginia, New-England, and Cannada, is more land than all the people in Christendome can [cultivate], and yet more to spare than all the natives of those Countries can use and culturate” (3-4)
THREE: If we don’t claim the land for England and Protestants, the Spanish and Portuguese will claim it for the Catholics.
Wahunsenacah, who took the name "Powhatan" when his father died, was chief of the chiefs when John Smith and 143 others arrived to establish the colony of "Jamestown" on April 26, 1607
Population Devastation
By that time the Powhatan population had already decreased by 10,000 because of diseases brought by previous European explorers.
Surviving Jamestown
In December 1607, the Powhatan captured Smith and held him captive for a month.
Only 38 of the original 144 colonists survived that first winter. But Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in North America.
In 1609, Smith returned to England. He explored the New England coast (he gave "New England" its name) in 1614, but thereafter never returned to America.
Pocahontas
After Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, died in 1616, Smith wrote about how she had saved his life when her father had held him captive.
Powhatan's Discourse of Peace and War
In 1624, Smith published a book titled The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles. "Powhatan's Discourse of Peace and War" is included in that text within a larger context in which Smith suggests that Powhattan was trying to deceive and manipulate the English.
“The formalize modes of address that Native Americans used in their early encounters with European were often lavishly described in exploration narratives. One reasons such scenes were central in Renaissance-era accounts is that the writers were imitating classical historiography, with its emphasis on oratory. As set pieces in their narratives, the writers included moving and aesthetically pleasing speeches based more or less loosely on memory and other sources. ‘Powhatan’s Discourse of Peace and War,’ by John Smith, and ‘King Philip’s Speech,’ by William Apess, are reconstructed works that provide narrative drama in their original contexts and stand alone as effective examples of Native eloquence” (Levine, 30).
Power and Wisdom
Powhatan explains to Smith that he knows well how the world works, contrary to what many English people believed of the Native Americans. He has lived through wars and sickness, watching his people die, and has seen much bloodshed and death. Powhatan knows what Captain Smith thinks, and says “Think you I am so simple, not to know it is better to eat good meat, lie well, and sleep quietly with my women and children...” (39). He understands that the white people look down upon his people, for being “simple” and uneducated. However, he tells Captain Smith this is not the case. Powhatan has been around long and seen many things. He reminds him that if the Englishwere to attack his people, the Powhatan would find a way survive by any means necessary. They would “lie cold in the woods, feed upon acorns, roots, and such trash...(and) neither rest, eat, nor sleep...” (39). Though they may be hunted, Powhatan and his people know how to survive in nature, as it is their home. He is not making a threat. Rather, he is trying to make Smith understand that his people will not be simply contained and pushed around. I liked this discourse because it gave the power to the Native Americans. . . . things such as this. . . [give] voice to the Native Americans[, who have] so long deserved to be heard.
Dehumanization?
.. . . when [Powhatan] asks, “What will it avail you to take that by force you may quickly have by love.” I’m not sure why this particular line stood out to me so much, but I’m suspecting that it has to do with it relating to modern times as much as it did in the past. People seem to be turning on one another so often these days to get what they want, when simple manners or politeness could work just as well, and perhaps even better. The lack of love between colonies and tribes were leading white settlers to start a “dehumanization” process to make their deeds more commendable . . . . People’s lack of love and common decency makes it hard to believe they were even human and not machines. The colonists were entirely focused on making the natives more like them instead of trying to work with them in a sensible way.
Whose Voice?
Powhatan’s discourse was apparently written by John Smith, potentially years after his capture and interaction with Powhatan. Smith of course had many reasons to fight with the native people, but even more to ally himself with them. The general opinion of many people is that Smith most likely embellished Powhatan’s speech in one way or another as “questions of its authenticity and sincerity add layers of complexity” (39). Even if Powhatan never spoke these words, though, it can be assumed that he was still in all likelihood a friend, in some way, to Smith. The fact that Smith felt compelled to write this speech at all, is interesting.. . .
Powhatan explains to Smith that he knows well how the world works, contrary to what many English people believed of the Native Americans. He has lived through wars and sickness, watching his people die, and has seen much bloodshed and death. Powhatan knows what Captain Smith thinks, and says “Think you I am so simple, not to know it is better to eat good meat, lie well, and sleep quietly with my women and children...” (39). He understands that the white people look down upon his people, for being “simple” and uneducated. However, he tells Captain Smith this is not the case. Powhatan has been around long and seen many things. He reminds him that if the Englishwere to attack his people, the Powhatan would find a way survive by any means necessary. They would “lie cold in the woods, feed upon acorns, roots, and such trash...(and) neither rest, eat, nor sleep...” (39). Though they may be hunted, Powhatan and his people know how to survive in nature, as it is their home. He is not making a threat. Rather, he is trying to make Smith understand that his people will not be simply contained and pushed around. I liked this discourse because it gave the power to the Native Americans. . . . things such as this. . . [give] voice to the Native Americans[, who have] so long deserved to be heard.
Dehumanization?
.. . . when [Powhatan] asks, “What will it avail you to take that by force you may quickly have by love.” I’m not sure why this particular line stood out to me so much, but I’m suspecting that it has to do with it relating to modern times as much as it did in the past. People seem to be turning on one another so often these days to get what they want, when simple manners or politeness could work just as well, and perhaps even better. The lack of love between colonies and tribes were leading white settlers to start a “dehumanization” process to make their deeds more commendable . . . . People’s lack of love and common decency makes it hard to believe they were even human and not machines. The colonists were entirely focused on making the natives more like them instead of trying to work with them in a sensible way.
Whose Voice?
Powhatan’s discourse was apparently written by John Smith, potentially years after his capture and interaction with Powhatan. Smith of course had many reasons to fight with the native people, but even more to ally himself with them. The general opinion of many people is that Smith most likely embellished Powhatan’s speech in one way or another as “questions of its authenticity and sincerity add layers of complexity” (39). Even if Powhatan never spoke these words, though, it can be assumed that he was still in all likelihood a friend, in some way, to Smith. The fact that Smith felt compelled to write this speech at all, is interesting.. . .
This Land Was Made for You and Me?
In 1631, he published Advertisements for the Unexeprienced Planters of New England, or Any Where: Or, the Path-way to Experience to Erect a Plantation. In it, he addressed the concerns of those who questioned the right of the English to take land from Native Americans. As he put it, “Many good religious devout men have made it a great question, as a matter of conscience, by what warrant they might go to possesse those Countries, which are none of theirs, but the poore [savages’].”
Smith’s response: to refrain from colonizing America would constitute “neglect of our duty and religion” as well as as “want of charity to those poore Savages” (4)
ONE: We are bringing them Christianity: “God did make the world to be inhabited with mankind, and to have his name knowne to all Nations, and from generation to generation.”
TWO: They’ve got more land than they need: “here in Florida, Virginia, New-England, and Cannada, is more land than all the people in Christendome can [cultivate], and yet more to spare than all the natives of those Countries can use and culturate” (3-4)
THREE: If we don’t claim the land for England and Protestants, the Spanish and Portuguese will claim it for the Catholics.
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