5.3.3 John Smith capturing a Powhatan
Drawing from John Smith's "Discourses of Capt. John Smith" shows a man in armor brandishing a club at a larger Native American man holding a bow and arrow. In the background a battle is being waged between Native Americans with bows and arrows and European soldiers armed with guns. The print has a caption which reads, "C. Smith taketh the King of Pamavnkee prisoner 1608."
This 1624 image, produced soon after English settlers organized Jamestown in Virginia, shows how English settlers viewed their interactions with the Powhatan Confederacy, the largest group of Natives in the surrounding areas. As you look closely at this image, find clues that help us know that this image represents the English perspective. Look at the size of the people in the foreground and their weapons. Look at the number of people in the background to see how many Natives appear to be fighting a much smaller number of Englishmen. Why do you think English settlers would produce this kind of visual image, which in all likelihood did not match the reality?
This 1624 image, produced soon after English settlers organized Jamestown in Virginia, shows how English settlers viewed their interactions with the Powhatan Confederacy, the largest group of Natives in the surrounding areas. Tell students early on that this image shows how primary sources often show the perspective of the producer of the source, and that this is a clear example of the English perspective of how they easily overpowered Natives (though it also depicts the Englishmen’s feeling that they were vastly outnumbered). Ask students to find clues that help us know that this image represents the English perspective. Direct students to look at the size of the people in the foreground and their weapons. In addition, have them look at the number of people in the background to see how many Natives appear to be fighting a much smaller number of Englishmen. Finally, ask students to consider why they think English settlers would produce this kind of visual image, which in all likelihood did not match the reality.
C. Smith taketh the King of Pamavnkee prisoner 1608
