2.2.2 The Native Americans

Question 1

The Native Americans that inhabited North America before being colonised by Europeans were nomadic people. What does this mean?

Answer 1

They moved about according to where they could find the most hospitable conditions.

Question 2

The Native Americans that inhabited North America before being colonised by the Europeans were hunter-gatherers. What does this mean?

Answer 2

They lived by hunting and fishing

Question 3

Native Americans: Technology

Answer 3

• The Native Americans were resourceful and sophisticated.
• Yet, the types of weapons that had developed to suit their own style of warfare that happened between tribes were very different from the types of weapons that had been developed in Europe to suit European warfare.
• The technology at their disposal was more limited and they were unable to replicate some European weapons like guns from their own resources.

Question 4

Native Americans: Social Structure

Answer 4

• Native Americans were divided into many tribes, and each tribe would have a chief who let the tribe.
• Everyone within the tribe would be under his control.

Question 5

Initial contact with the Native Americans at Jamestown

Answer 5

• The English settlers at Jamestown soon came to realise that the area they had settled was part of a Native American territory known as the Powhatan Confederacy, made up of dozens of villages.
• Chief Powhatan was their leader.

Question 6

Control with Native Americans in Jamestown

Answer 6

• The Powhatans had never had any experience of foreigners settling in their land, and they did not assume that the English would want to control them.
• Chief Powhatan assumed that he would be their chief.

Question 7

Trade with Native Americans in Jamestown

Answer 7

To begin with, relations between the English and the natives were reasonable, since the English traded copper pots and iron fish hooks in return for food and acceptance from the Native Americans.

Question 8

How did relations between the Native Americans get worse at Jamestown?

Answer 8

• After a few years of settlement, the English began to take over more land, beyond the borders agreed with the Powhatans. The English were led by John Smith.
• Relations then broke down between the English and the Powhatans as the two sides competed over land to produce food. The two sides were at war from 1609-1614

Question 9

Truce between colonists and Native Americans after war

Answer 9

The two sides finally agreed on a truce in 1614 and stopped fighting. A marriage was arranged between one of the settlers, John Rolfe, and the daughter of Chief Powhatan, whose name was Pocahontas.

Question 10

Religion in Jamestown

Answer 10

Pocahontas converted to Christianity and travelled back to England with her husband. The English hoped that by converting other Native Americans to Christianity, they would be able to survive more easily in hostile conditions.

Question 11

What did the English trade with the North Americans?

Answer 11

Copper pots and iron fish hooks.