Aleasha - Week 4 Captain John Smith

Captain John Smith was a key figure in creating the foundations of America during the early settlements, specifically Virginia. In December 1606, at the age of twenty-six, Smith decided to leave to help colonise Virginia for profit and later on in 1607 the Jamestown settlement was established.

While exploring the Chickahominy River, Smith was captured by Chief Powhatan's men (a local tribe to the settlements) but was later released, although it is unclear as to why. Throughout the early years of settlement, Smith helped create a relationship between the tribe and the settlers by providing blue beads in exchange for food supplies.  

In 1608, John Smith was elected president of the local community and instituted disciplines for his people to follow, his most well known discipline is 'He who does not work, will not eat'. Although the settlers relied on the Native Indians for food supplies he maintained that the settlers must maintain their own agricultural profit for the local community and the mother country back in England. 

However, the friendship soon dissolved and led to tensions between the two factions and food shortages within the settlements. Due to the Native Indian tribe refusing to trade in an attempt to starve the settlers, the First Powhatan War occurred. The period following this war soon became knowing as the 'Starving Time' due to the lack of food resources in the local area. In 1609, he was injured by a gunpowder burn which was rumoured to be caused by someone within his community as his leadership not only created allies but also enemies, due to this he had to return to England for treatment but later returned in 1614 to continue exploring and mapping areas such as Maine and Massachusetts Bay areas, which he named New England.

After multiple years in America, John returned to England in 1615 and wrote about the new colonies and the opportunities that America provided the settlements due to the rich resourceful land.

However, it is common knowledge that Smith's writings on America and its profitable uses is not what he is most well-known for. Smith's interactions with Pocahontas - the daughter of Chief Powhatan is not outlined clearly as to whether she was the reason for his release from the tribe. The well known story tale that has been romanticised by Disney of John Smith and Pocahontas is a manipulation of truth to create a fairytale storyline. For it is in fact  noted that Pocahontas went on to marry a different distinctive man who participated in creating the identity of America, known as John Rolfe who is most well known for the cultivation of tobacco in the Colony of Virginia.