Native Perspectives on Virginia & Jamestown Flashcards
What does it mean to understand her by “facing east”?
- “facing east” often symbolizes a perspective that honors her heritage and the complexities of her story, emphasizing an understanding that includes Indigenous viewpoints and historical contexts
Pocahontas (timeline)
slides
-Pocahontas’ is likely a nickname
-Pocahontas’ formal name was Amonute
-Her private, family name was Matoaka
Baptized name was Rebecca
-Daughter of Powhatan (or Mamanatowick)
Different slides:
1595/6: Birth
1607/8: Rescued/adopted John Smith
1613: Captured by English; Married John Rolfe
1616: Traveled to England with her son; died nt slide
Pocohontas’ World (Powhatan tribe)
slides
Property
-Usufruct rights (not exclusive ownership
-Ownership was based on active use
-Owned not through inheritance or sale
Gender
-matrilineage (though not a monarchy)
-Position of leadership was given through leadership and skill not wealth
-Custom of tracing through female line not males
Gendered division of labor
-Women: agricultural work, decisions about war captive
-Men: hunting and warfare
-Women were agricultural workers. Women gained social status through their agricultural
-women made decision about war captives and diplomacy
-Women made important decisions about war, life, death, and sexual identity
-Native women did agricultural work which was considered a masculine domain
-Individual choice about sex and divorce
Southeastern native people allowed more choice about individual choice about sex and divorce
-During divorce husband would return back to clan and women would have the children
Men’s emotions
-In the culture it was pathetic to cry or be in pain
-Men would be called “women” if they were weak
Race
-Skin color unimportant; insider/outsider status most important
-Fictive kin allowed for full adoption
-If they were adopted into clan, skin color didn’t matter
“Great Chain of Being” (English Ideology)
research +slides:
Social Rigidity: The Great Chain of Being emphasizes a fixed hierarchy, with each level of existence (from God down to inanimate objects) having a specific place. This rigidity reinforces social roles and status, meaning individuals are expected to adhere to their designated positions without mobility or change.
Top-down Authority: Authority flows from the top of the chain downwards, with God at the apex. Each level has power over the levels below it, which means that rulers and leaders derive their legitimacy from divine will. This structure promotes obedience and respect for authority figures, reinforcing the idea that those in higher positions have control over those beneath them.
Interdependence: The Great Chain of Being suggests that all elements of existence are interconnected, with each part dependent on those around it. This interdependence means that if one link in the chain is disrupted, it can affect the entire structure. This reinforces the idea of social harmony, where each person and entity has a role that contributes to the stability of the whole.
No Individualism: In this hierarchical framework, the emphasis is on collective identity and roles rather than individualism. Personal desires and aspirations are often secondary to the expectations of one’s social rank or position. Individuals are seen as integral parts of a larger system, which prioritizes societal order over personal freedom.
Patriarchy (English Belief)
research + slides:
Household = Miniature Monarchy: The idea that the household functions as a “miniature monarchy” reflects the belief that the family is organized hierarchically, with the male figure (typically the father or husband) as the head. Enforcing patriarchal values that position men as rulers and women as subordinate.
Coverture: Coverture is a legal doctrine that subsumed a married woman’s legal identity under that of her husband. Upon marriage, a woman would lose her separate legal rights, becoming essentially the property of her husband. This reinforced patriarchal control by denying women autonomy and agency, ensuring that men held power over legal, financial, and social matters within the household and society at large.
Domestic Work for Women: In a patriarchal system, women’s roles were primarily confined to domestic responsibilities, such as childcare, cooking, and maintaining the home. This division of labor not only reinforced gender roles but also marginalized women’s contributions to society. By relegating women to the private sphere, patriarchy ensured that they remained dependent on men and limited their opportunities for education, employment, and personal growth.
-Patriarch lineage: property is passed down through male lineage, so it’s important for women to have babies for property ownership
Jamestown, Virginia
slides:
-Founded in 1607
-Funded as an investment by the Virginia Company, a joint stock company (A group of people who pooled resources for this project)
-One of several English “investment” colonies
research:
-Founding and Early Struggles: The initial group of settlers faced numerous challenges, including harsh weather, lack of food, and conflicts with Indigenous peoples. The settlement was located in a swampy area, which contributed to health issues, including outbreaks of disease.
-Relations with Indigenous Peoples: The settlers encountered the Powhatan Confederacy, a group of Native American tribes led by Chief Powhatan. Initially, there were trade relationships, but tensions escalated into conflicts, impacting both communities significantly.
-Impact on American History
Jamestown’s establishment had lasting implications:
Colonization: It marked the beginning of English colonization in North America, leading to the establishment of other colonies and ultimately the expansion of the United States.
Cultural Legacy: The interactions between settlers and Indigenous peoples set the stage for complex and often tragic relationships that would shape American history.
Economic Foundations: The reliance on cash crops and labor systems developed in Jamestown laid the groundwork for the agricultural economy of the Southern colonies, influencing economic practices for centuries.
-Economic Development (Tobacco and Labor)
The economic landscape of Jamestown transformed significantly:
Tobacco Cultivation: Introduced by John Rolfe, tobacco became the colony’s main cash crop, driving economic growth. Its popularity in Europe created a lucrative export market.
Labor Systems: The demand for labor to cultivate tobacco led to the use of indentured servants, who worked for a set period in exchange for passage to America. Eventually, this system evolved into the use of enslaved Africans, significantly impacting the social and economic structure of Virginia.
-Relations with Native Americans
The relationship between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy was complex:
Initial Trade: The settlers engaged in trade with the Powhatan, exchanging goods like metal tools for food.
Conflict: Tensions escalated due to land encroachment and resource competition. Notable conflicts included the Anglo-Powhatan Wars, which resulted in violence and loss of life on both sides.
Cultural Exchange: Despite conflicts, there were instances of cultural exchange, and figures like Pocahontas played roles in mediating relations.
John Smith
Research:
-Captain John Smith played a crucial role in Jamestown’s early survival by establishing trade with local tribes and enforcing discipline among the settlers.
-As a leader, he implemented strict discipline and trade agreements with Indigenous peoples, helping the colony survive its early years.
John Rolfe
Research:
-He is credited with developing a successful strain of tobacco and marrying Pocahontas, which helped establish a tenuous peace with the Powhatan.
The “Starving Time”
slides:
-1607: 108 colonists left for Jamestown; 38 remain at end of first winter
-1609: death rate near 90%
-Jane (right) likely victim of cannibalism
-English dependent on food provided by indigenous people
research:
-Initial Settlement: In May 1607, the Virginia Company sent 108 settlers to establish a colony in Jamestown. The settlers faced numerous challenges, including unfamiliar terrain, a lack of food, and tensions with Indigenous peoples.
-First Winter: By the end of the first winter (1607-1608), only 38 of the original 108 colonists remained. The high mortality rate was due to a combination of factors: disease, harsh living conditions, and insufficient food supplies. The settlers were unprepared for the realities of colonial life and relied heavily on the Powhatan Confederacy for food.
-Harsh Conditions: By the winter of 1609, the situation had deteriorated further. The colony had swelled to about 500 settlers, but inadequate food supplies and increased tensions with Indigenous groups made survival difficult. Many settlers were unaccustomed to hard labor and had little knowledge of agriculture.
-Food Shortages: The drought in the summer of 1609 exacerbated the food crisis. With crops failing and resupply ships delayed, settlers became increasingly dependent on the Powhatan for sustenance. As relations soured, trade became more challenging.
-High Mortality: By the spring of 1610, an estimated 90% of the population had died from starvation, disease, and malnutrition. The survivors faced extreme desperation, and accounts from this time describe the horrors of starvation.
Cannibalism Reports: One of the most chilling aspects of the Starving Time was the reported cannibalism among the colonists. Historical accounts suggest that Jane, a young girl, may have been a victim of such acts. The desperate conditions led some to resort to eating human remains, including those of deceased settlers, to survive.
Moral Desperation: This act of cannibalism reflected the dire circumstances in which the settlers found themselves, highlighting the lengths to which people will go to survive when faced with extreme famine. It also underscores the psychological toll of starvation and despair.
-Trade and Conflict: Initially, the Powhatan Confederacy provided food and resources to the settlers through trade. However, as the settlers expanded their territory and resources became scarce, tensions grew. The English began to over-rely on the Powhatan for food, leading to conflicts over land and resources.
-Food Sources: The Powhatan had established agricultural practices that were vital for survival. They cultivated crops such as corn, beans, and squash, which became essential to the settlers’ diets. However, as relations worsened, the ability of the settlers to acquire food through trade diminished.
-Cultural Exchange: Despite the conflicts, some settlers learned agricultural techniques from the Indigenous peoples, which eventually helped stabilize the colony. However, the dependency created during the Starving Time highlighted the vulnerabilities of the settlers and the need for a more sustainable food supply.
Powhatan
Powhatan, born Wahunsenacawh around 1545, was the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, a powerful alliance of several Algonquian-speaking tribes in Virginia. He is best known for his role in the early interactions between Native Americans and English settlers, particularly those at Jamestown, which was established in 1607.
As a leader, Powhatan sought to consolidate power and control over the various tribes in his confederacy, which included over 30 tribes and extended across much of what is now Virginia. He was a shrewd and strategic leader, using diplomacy, trade, and military strength to maintain his authority and protect his people’s interests in the face of European colonization.
Powhatan’s relationship with the Jamestown settlers was complex. Initially, he viewed the newcomers as potential allies for trade and support against rival tribes. However, as the settlers began to encroach on Native lands and resources, tensions escalated. He famously had a daughter, Pocahontas, who played a crucial role in the interactions between her people and the English, particularly in saving the life of John Smith, a key leader among the settlers.
After Powhatan’s death around 1618, his confederacy faced increasing pressure from English expansion, leading to a series of conflicts known as the Anglo-Powhatan Wars. Powhatan remains a significant figure in American history, symbolizing the challenges and complexities of Indigenous-European relations during the early colonial period.
