United States History Student Edition

C Powhatan Speaks to John Smith

Captain John Smith, the leader of Jamestown, and Powhatan, the chief of the native people, had a conflicted relationship. The colonists located Jamestown in Powhatan territory. In 1607, Powhatan had his people capture and hold Smith. During Smith’s imprisonment, Powhatan became sympathetic to the settlers and agreed to an alliance that helped the colonists survive their first year in Jamestown. Later, however, conflict arose between the settlers and Powhatan’s people. By 1609, the disagreements led Powhatan to speak at some length to Smith. Powhatan’s words were recorded by an English observer. PRIMARY SOURCE: SPEECH “ What will it availe you to take that by force you may quickly have by love, or to destroy them that provide you food. What can you get by [war], when we can hide our provisions and fly to the woods? Whereby you must famish by wronging us your friends. And why are you thus jealous of our loves seeing us [unarmed], and both doe, and are willing still to feede you, with that you cannot get but by our labours? Thinke you I am so simple, not to know it is better to . . . laugh and be merry with you . . . then be forced to flie from all, to lie cold in the woods, feede upon Acornes, rootes, and such trash, and be so hunted by you, that I can neither rest, eate, nor sleepe; but my tyred men must watch, and if a twig but breake, every one cryeth there commeth Captaine Smith: then must I fly I know not whether: and thus with miserable feare, end my miserable life, leaving my pleasures to such youths as you. . . . Let this therefore assure you of our loves, and every yeare our friendly trade shall furnish you with Corne; and now also, if you would come in friendly manner to see us, and not thus with your guns and swords as to invade your foes. ” —from Powhatan’s Speech to Captain John Smith, 1609 EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Interpreting What complaints does Powhatan have about how the colonists have been treating his people? 2. Analyzing Points of View Describe Powhatan’s attitude toward the settlers and the factors that may have affected his point of view. What are some of his words that are clues to this opinion? Why does he speak to Smith in this way? What does he want to achieve?

Smith, John. Adventures of Captain John Smith, in The International Library of Famous Literature, Vol. 10, Nathan Haskell Dole et al., eds. New York: Merrill and Baker, 1898..

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The English Colonies Are Settled and Grow