Q). In Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough, written by Helen C Rountree, what are Rountree's argument and significance?
Background: The book retells the history of the landing of English settlers in Jamestown in 1607.
It describes the ensuing 4 decades and tells life mainly from the Native point of view. However, Rountree gets most of her information based on English writing's, and in particular, John Smith's writings. One of the main topics in the book is the life of Powhatan, the Paramount Chief of the Powhatan Native Americans. Powhatan encounters John Smith after he is taken captive by the Natives. After some confusion, an 'alliance' is formed between the two men. The alliance clearly meant more to the Native people than the English, as the following years would show. The English quickly ran out of food supplies and voyaged to various Native tribes in hopes of trading for corn. Originally, the Jamestown squatters traded peacefully.
However, when the Powhatans refused to trade with the English, things turned violent. This lead to the English claiming 34 Native lands from 1614-1621. In 1618 after the death of Powhatan, Rountree switches focus to Opechancanough, Powhatan's brother, who takes over as Paramount Chief. Opechanacanough would organize the Great Assault of 1622 with the intent of getting the English to leave. It would prove to be unsuccessful leading to another Great Assault in 1944.
In the end, the attempts were only partially successful. Massive amount of immigrants began arriving in the Chesapeake Bay area and would prove to be the Natives worst fear.
It is important to note that before encountering the squatters, Rountree mentions the simple lifestyle by which the Natives were used to living. They hunted, gathered, and raised crops.
They only raised enough crop to sustain themselves, but this changed upon encountering the English. The natives were also introduced to new weapons, materials, cultures, and ways of life.