Did Pocahontas Really Rescue John Smith?
Overview:
A picturesque story: Captain John Smith is innocently exploring the new land, when he is taken captive by the great Indian chief Powhatan. He is positioned on the ground, with his head on a stone, and Indian warriors are posed to club Smith to death. Suddenly, Powhatan's daughter appears, throws herself on Smith, and positions her head above his. Powhatan relents, and allows Smith to go on his way. Pocahontas, the young daughter, becomes a fast friend of Smith and the colonists, helping the English colony in Tidewater Virginia to survive in its fragile early years.
Is it truth or fiction? You decide.
Procedure (80 minutes):
1. Introduction of lesson, objectives, overview of SAC procedure (15 minutes)
2. SAC group assignments (30 minutes)
a. Assign groups of four and assign arguments to each team of two.
b. In each group, teams read and examine the Document Packet
c. Each student completes the Preparation part of the Capture Sheet (#2), and works with their partner to prepare their argument using supporting evidence.
d. Students should summarize your argument in #3.
3. Position Presentation (10 minutes)
a. Team 1 presents their position using supporting evidence recorded and summarized on the Preparation part of the Capture Sheet (#2 & #3) on the Preparation matrix. Team 2 records Team 1’s argument in #4.
b. Team 2 restates Team 1’s position to their satisfaction.
c. Team 2 asks clarifying questions and records Team 1’s answers.
d. Team 2 presents their position using supporting evidence recorded and summarized on the Preparation part of the Capture Sheet (#2 & #3) on the Preparation matrix. Team 1 records Team 2’s argument in #4.
e. Team 1 restates Team 2’s position to their satisfaction.
f. Team 1 asks clarifying questions and records Team 2’s answers.
4. Consensus Building (10 minutes)
a. Team 1 and 2 put their roles aside.
b. Teams discuss ideas that have been presented, and figure out where they can agree or where they have differences about the historical question
5. Closing the lesson (15 minutes)
a. Whole-group Discussion
b. Make connection to unit
c. Assessment (suggested writing activity addressing the question)
DOCUMENT PACKET
Document 1
These are John Smith’s own words about what happened.
Arriving at Werowocomoco, their emperor proudly lying upon a bedstead a foot high upon ten or twelve mats . . . with such grave and majestical countenance, as drove me into admiration . . .He kindly welcomed me with good words and great platters of sundry victuals, assuring me his friendship, and my liberty within four days. . . . He asked me the cause of our coming . . . demanded why we went further with our boat. . . . He promised to give me what I wanted to feed us, hatchets and copper we should make him, and none should disturb us. This request I promised to perform. And thus
having all the kindness he could devise, sought to content me, he sent
me home.
Vocabulary
Emperor-ruler, king
Countenance-face
Victuals-foods
Source: Excerpt adapted from John Smith (1608). A true relation of such occurrences and accidents of note as hath happened in Virginia since the first planting of that colony. In L. G. Gardiner (Ed.). (1907). Narratives of Early Virginia, 1606–1625. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 48, 50.
Document 2
These are John Smith’s words about what happened from a later version of his experiences.
At last they brought [Smith] to Meronocomoco, where was Powhatan their Emperor. At his entrance, all the people gave a great shout . . . and . . . having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was held. But the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before Powhatan. Then, as many as could laid hands upon him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs, to beat out his brains. Pocahontas, the King’s dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms, and laid down her own upon his to save him from death; whereat the Emperor was contented Smith should live.Two days after, Powhatan having disguised himself in the most fearful
manner he could, caused Captain Smith to be brought forth to a great house in the woods, and there upon a mat by the fire to be left alone . . . then, Powhatan, more like a devil than a man, came unto him and told him how they were friends, and presently he should go to Jamestown, to send him two great guns, and a grindstone, for which he would forever esteem him as a son. . . .
Vocabulary
Consultation-discussion
Entreaty-request, plea
Prevail-succeed
Esteem-value, respect
Source: Excerpt adapted from John Smith (1624). General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles. In P. L. Barbour (Ed.). (1986). The Complete Works of Captain John Smith (1580–1631), Vol. 2. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 151.
Document 3
Here is how one historian interprets John Smith’s two accounts.
John Smith’s two completely different versions don’t match up. The later one, A General History of Virginia, exaggerates a lot of details in A True Relation, and brings up new information Smith never mentioned in the 16 years between the publication of the two.When Smith describes his captivity (winter of 1607-1608) in A True Relation, he says Powhatan was kind and generous. He says he found no cause to fear for his life. (This proves Smith thought it was wrong to doubt Powhatan’s goodwill.) Plus, Smith never mentioned Pocahontas in A True Relation. Therefore, a thinking
person can’t believe it.
A True Relation mentions Pocahontas coming to Jamestown later in 1608. Smith says he gave her gifts in return for her father’s kindness. Wouldn’t he have been thanking her for saving his life (if it happened)?
Finally, Smith wrote in 1612 (in A Map of Virginia) that while he was in captivity he witnessed a method of execution practiced by the tribe. He describes a prisoner’s head being placed on a sacrificing stone, while “one with clubs beats out their brains.” Isn’t it rather odd that he didn’t mention his own experience here,
since it sounds just like what happened to him?
Source: Summary adapted from Henry Adams (1867, January). “Captain John Smith.” The North American Review 104 (214).
Document 4
Here is how another historian interprets John Smith’s accounts.
John Smith had no reason to lie. In all of his other writing about native customs and geography, he is very accurate and observant. For 250 years after his captivity, no one questioned his story.The reason the two versions differ is that their purpose is different. In A True Relation, Smith didn’t want to brag about his adventures; he wanted to inform readers about the land and people of Virginia. In the General History, his goal was to promote colonization in Virginia (and added stories might get people interested in the activities of the Virginia Company). And to those critics who say Smith never mentioned Pocahontas’s bravery until 1624—after some of her fame would
enhance his status—he did write about her before she came to England. In 1616, Smith wrote to Queen Anne to tell her of Pocahontas’s bravery and other rare qualities, and he described how Pocahontas rescued him from Powhatan, and how she saved all Jamestown from starvation. There is no doubt that the event happened.
Smith may have misinterpreted what the whole thing meant. I think it was
probably a ritualistic death and rebirth, with Pocahontas acting as his sponsor into Indian identity.
Vocabulary
Colonization-settlement, domination
Misinterpreted-misunderstood, got the wrong idea about
Source: Summary adapted from J. A. Leo Lemay (1991). The American Dream of Captain John Smith. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia.
Document 5
Here is how another historian interprets these events.
Why is it that none of the other members of the Virginia Company who keptdiaries ever wrote about Pocahontas saving Smith’s life? (Ten fellow Virginia company members kept journals in 1608.) Surely someone would have written about it if Smith came back to Jamestown and shared his story.
Thus, no one in England had ever heard of her until 1617 when she was a big
media event in London. She was a “princess” (daughter of “King” Powhatan), and the first Indian woman to visit England. Because she had converted to Christianity, people high up in the church, as well as the King (James I) and Queen (Anne), paid attention to her.
While all this was going on, John Smith published a new edition of A True Relation
that now had footnotes in the part about his capture. These notes mention Pocahontas throwing herself on Smith to beg his release, and her father giving in to her request. Smith even goes on to take credit for introducing Pocahontas to the English language and the Bible.
In 1624, Smith polished this story in his General History. This version expands the
details of his rescue, saying Pocahontas risked her life to save his. He also describes
Chief Powhatan providing the Jamestown colonists with Indian guides. Would the
same chief who wanted to kill Smith now try to help him?
Source: Summary adapted from Paul Lewis (1966). The Great Rogue: A Biography of John Smith. New York: David McKay Company.
Document 6
Here is how another scholar interprets the disputed event.
The bringing in of two big stones, and forcing John Smith to stretch out on them,seemed to Smith like he was about to be executed. When a young girl (Pocahontas)
knelt and placed her head on Smith, he was released. The way he saw it, she saved his life.
What almost certainly happened was that Smith was the center of a ritual similar
to what young boys in the tribe went through before entering manhood. They have a
pretend execution or death and then are reborn as men. Pocahontas was preselected
to be his protector. She did not actually save his life because the Powhatan were not
really going to kill him.
Vocabulary
Ritual-custom, ceremony
Source: Summary adapted from Philip Barbour, Pocahontas and Her World (1969). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Some of the language and phrasing in these documents have been modified from the originals.
CAPTURE SHEET
Preparation:
1. Highlight your assigned position.
Yes: Pocahontas rescued John Smith.
No: Pocahontas did not rescue John Smith.
2. Read through each document searching for support for your side’s argument. Use the documents to fill in the chart (Hint: Not all documents support your side, find those that do):
Document # / What is the main idea of this document? / What details support your position?3. Work with your partner to summarize your arguments for your position using the supporting documents you found above:
Position Presentation:
4. You and your partner will present your position to your opposing group members. When you are done, you will then listen to your opponents’ position.
While you are listening to your opponents’ presentation, write down the main details that they present here:
Clarifying questions I have for the opposing partners:
How they answered the questions:
Consensus Building:
5. Put your assigned roles aside. Where does your group stand on the question? Where does your group agree? Where does your group disagree? Your consensus answer does not have to be strictly yes, or no.
We agree:
We disagree:
Our final consensus: