Thinking About Powhatan and Pocahontas
It's hard to be sure what really happened when Smith met Powhatan. Smith told two versions of the meeting in his writings. The first told the popular story of Pocahontas, and the second didn't mention her or the rescue at all. So which version is more likely to be true?
Powhatan was a wise leader. He knew when to use force and when to use kindness. He also knew that Smith had been trying to get food for his people. The English settlement was starving, and it was not a threat to Powhatan. Why would Powhatan need to kill Smith?
Pocahontas was much younger than Smith, who was a stranger brought in as a prisoner. Even if Pocahontas did love Smith, would she speak out against her powerful father in public?
List two reasons the information we know about Powhatan and Pocahontas does not support the popular story.
