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The essay wasn’t too hard. It was like ok. At first, when I was told it had to be a page, I was thinking, how am I going to write all that on that puny topic in one class! Well as it turns out in the end, I did 5/3 pages. I actually sort of didn’t have enough time to have a more thorough ending.
Blood on the River Assessment Prompt #3
By Gregory Chang (Core 2)
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The relationship between the Native Americans and the colonists changed quite a lot over time. When the colonists first arrived in Virginia, they were attacked by Native Americans. But it was only a small skirmish, so only two of the colonists were injured.
A few days after Jamestown was born, Native Americans come to trade with the colonists. At first it looked innocent enough, but Captain Smith quickly realized that the Native Americans were also spying on them as they traded. Captain Smith then wanted to build a palisade to protect Jamestown, but President Wingfield says that it’s nonsense. So, the palisade was not built.
Only a few days later, the Native Americans launch an attack on Jamestown. This time, seventeen men are wounded and one is killed. Only then did President Wingfield order the construction of the palisade. That can be seen in the following quote, “…the president was contented the fort should be palisadoed, the ordnance mounted, his men armed…” But during the construction of the palisade, the Native Americans still launch small attacks upon anybody who strays afar from the fort.
Soon Jamestown is dying of starvation and disease, but friendly Native Americans still come and trade with the colonists. This helps revive Jamestown. Soon there are no more attacks because the fort is hard to attack and the Native Americans are becoming friendly. Captain Smith becomes more important, as his skills as a leader and a translator become recognized; so the relationship with the Native Americans is peaceful, especially when Captain Smith becomes Chief Powhatan’s adopted son. Captain Smith’s importance as a diplomat can be seen in the following quote,”…managing of all things abroad to Captain Smith…”
Unfortunately, when the colonists are ordered to make Chief Powhatan a subject of England it makes the chief really angry, so none of the tribes under his rule are allowed to trade with Jamestown. Fortunately trading quickly starts again. But, the new colonists went and killed Indians and Chief Powhatan is forced to take an aggressive stance. “…destroy them that provide you food…Whereby you must famish by wronging us, your friends.” Chief Powhatan says that the Indians are friendly, but because the colonists attacked them, there will be war. Captain Smith then successfully has peace with a nearby tribe so then Jamestown might not be attacked soon, but soon there is war anyway. There is, however, a short peace when Pocahontas marries John Rolfe, but war breaks out again and in the end the Powhatan empire is no more, just like the prophecy said “… there will come a tribe from the bay of the Chesapeake…by the end of this battle, the Powhatan Kingdom will be no more”.