Kur 1

Benahin Kur
Professor Halford
History 1700
September 13, 2014
Document Analysis One
The beginning of the Natives of the Americas and the European encounter, including the
English, French, Spanish and Dutch, changed the fate of the Natives for hundreds of years to
come. When the English began to create settlements in North America during the late 1500s and
early 1600s one thing was certain from the natives perspective. They did not consider the new
comers as a major threat to their land or people. The first attempt to colonize in the Americas by
the English was in 1577, which concluded as a failure. Many more English explorers attempted
the same but it wasnt until 1607 when 3 ships totaling 100 men and 4 boys landed on the shores
of Chesapeake (West Davidson et al, 52). At that time, Chesapeake was home to Powhatan, who
was a prominent leader of the Natives, and his confederacy (Davidson et al, 52).
The first document I analyzed was Powhatans speech made in 1609. My understanding
of this speech was that it was a message and a warning from his people expressing the lack of
appreciation the Europeans have shown towards them. Powhatan says in his speech, we are
unarmed, and willing to give you what you ask, if you come in a friendly manner. When the
English arrived to Powhatans territory, it was clear to him and his people that they were in need
of the natives help to adapt to their new surroundings. Many of the natives also saw the
opportunity to trade, befriend and benefit from the Europeans. Powhatans people welcomed the
English with open arms but were quick to find out their true intentions. Another important
statement Powhatan made in his speech was, take away your guns and swords, the cause of all

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our jealousy or, you may die in the same manner. I believe in a way, Powhatan realized the
effect of Europeans presence in his land and also realized it may not go the way he hoped
because of their persistence to colonize his people. Despite the help the English settlers received
from the natives, they kept pushing the natives out of their land and pushed for more power as
John Rolfe displays in his letter to the Governor of Virginia, Sir Thomas Dale in 1614.
Five years after Powhatans speech, John Rolfe was set to marry Pocahontas, who was
Powhatans daughter, in an attempt to unite the English and the Natives of Powhatans region.
Rolfe addresses his intention for marrying Pocahontas as a step to colonize the Natives of that
region. His letter depicts that he is sacrificing his body and mind not because of carnal
affections but for the good of his country, England, and his god, but most of all for the sake of
saving the Natives. As an Englishmen, I believe his view of the Natives despite getting the help
necessary to survive in the new land was that they were uncivilized and therefore superior to the
English. Rolfe says in his letter, shall I be of so untoward a disposition, as to refuse to lead the
blind into the right way? After comparing Powhatans speech and John Rolfes letter, it
occurred to me that the Natives eventually became overwhelmed by the presence of the English
people. Decades passed and the natives continue to tolerate the Europeans and endured war for
land, epidemics and pressure from the Europeans to convert the natives to European values and
beliefs. Many natives objected to European ways and for some time pressed for the Europeans to
accept the native ways and culture and to also cease their attempts to colonize them.
By 1640s, the number of English settlers increased by tens of thousands in North
America which required expansion towards the west and further acquiring native lands by
purchase or war. Around this time, a select few began to live among and conduct studies of the
natives cultures. In 1643 Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, completed the first study

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of a native language of the Americas, the Narragansett language. In his study, he observed a
situation where a Narragansett man responding to a dream he had, which he considered a
message from his god. Williams writes, ...the sun (whom they worship for a god)... To me, that
statement began the comparison and understanding of the two cultures. Another man by the
name of John Megapolensis, who was appointed as first pastor in an area near present day
Albany, also documented his encounters with the natives and their religious practices in 1644.
Both of these men noted the difference in how the Natives of the Americas view higher power
compared to the Europeans. It was apparent that both sides laughed at one another for their style
of worship and their views of higher power. Megaplnesis writes, They have otherwise no
Religion: when we pray they laugh at us; some of them despite it entirely, and some when we tell
them we do when we pray, stand astonished. Throughout history, weve seen religious beliefs
or beliefs in general lead to war and in this situations it is was different. I believe the difference
in the belief system between the natives of the Americas and Europeans was a contributing factor
the conflict they both faced since the first contact with one another.
Upon analyzing fragments of Edward Randolphs document, I was uncertain of what the
purpose of the letter was. I searched on google for information on Randolph and was able to
understand his report. I discovered Randolph was sent by King James II to investigate any
violations of the Navigation Acts and the overall progress of the colonies. Randolphs report
describes his findings and Metacoms War in 1675, also known as King Philips War by the
English, and its threat to the existence of New England. By this time, the tension between the
natives and the Europeans were high because of desperation for land and food. Randolph
reported in his letter to the King the Natives discontent with the Bostonians. His observation
stated that the natives were rebelling against the Bostonians pressure to christianize those

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heathen before they were civilized and enjoining them to the strict observations of their laws...
Randolph continues to describe the natives behavior by saying, [T]he people, on the other side,
for lucre and gain, entice and provoke the Indians to the breach thereof, especially to
drunkenness, to which those people are so generally addicted that they will strip themselves for
their skin to have their fill of rum and brandy.
The frustration over territory had sparked many fights among native tribes, European
countries, and continuously added to the numbers of lives lost in the Americas since the 1500s.
By early 1700s, the native groups have allied with one another from different regions and also
with the French to push out the English from their settlements. I believe the Europeans intention
to acquire land overseas has stayed the same for centuries since their first arrival in the
Americas. The Europeans attitude towards the natives has always been patronizing and
oppressive. In contrast, the natives perception of the Europeans changed overtime from being
welcoming to being hostile. Key contributions to their hostility was the destruction and
acquisition of their land and resources by force, widespread epidemics which killed a large
amount of their people and the Europeans persistence to colonize the natives and to suppress and
change their culture.

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Work Cited:

A Wicomesse Indian to the governor of Maryland, 1633 n.p. Smithsonian Source. Web. 13
September 2014.
Davidson, James West, Brian DeLay, Christine Leigh Heyrman, Mark H. Lyle, Michael B. Stoff.
Experience History: Interpreting Americas Past. Boston: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2011.
Print
Megaplensis, John. Dutch missionary John Megapolensis on the Mohawks (Iroquois), 1644
n.p. Smithsonian Source. Web. 13 September 2014.

Powhatan. Speech by Powhatan, as recorded by John Smith, 1609 n.p. Smithsonian Source.
Web. 13 September 2014.
Randolph, Edward. Edward Randolphs report of King Philips War in New England, 1675
n.p. Smithsonian Source. Web. 13 September 2014.
Rolfe, John. John Rolfe Letter n.p. Smithsonian Source. Web. 13 September 2014.
Williams, Roger. Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, in A key into the Language of
America, 1643 n.p. Smithsonian Source. Web. 13 September 2014.