Question

The Powhatan Indians of the early 17th century could BEST be described as

A) being destroyed by a genocidal assault by the Spanish.
B) cooperating closely with the French against the British.
C) having a tense and confrontational relationship with British settlers.
D) being forced from their lands by European settlers and relocated to Oklahoma.

Answer 1

C. Having tense and confrontational relations with The British settlers also remember Pocahontas was from the Powhatan tribe during the 17th century also.

Answer 2

The Powhatan Indians of the early 17th century could best be described as having a tense and confrontational relationship with British settlers, so the correct answer is C.

In 1607, when English soldier and pioneer John Smith arrived on the shores of Virginia, he was captured by Opchanacanough, the younger brother of Powhatan's Chief. According to Smith's version, Pohahontas, Powhatan's daughter, prevented his father from executing Smith. It is believed that this constituted a ritual designed to admit Smith into the tribe.

After Smith left Virginia to go to England in 1609 because of an injury caused by the handling of gunpowder, the tribe attacked and killed several residents of Jamestown. Within a few years both the chief and Pocahontas died of illness, but while the chief died in Virginia, Pocahontas did so in England, having been captured and after voluntarily marrying the tobacco planter John Rolfe.

Meanwhile, the English continued to take over the territory of the Powhatan. After the death of Wahunsunacock, his younger brother Opitchapam became chief, followed by his younger brother Opchanacanough, who in 1622 and in 1644 attempted to expel the English from their territories. These incursions provoked strong retaliation by the English, leading to the almost total destruction of the tribe.