PocahontasPocahontasThe Real StoryThe Real Story

BackgroundBackgroundThere were 3 ships, not 1

- Godspeed, Susan Constant, and Discovery

Ratcliffe was never governor of Virginia- Colony didn’t have a governor for the first couple

of years- When he was chosen, it was as president

Colonists all were looking for gold—no one wanted to farm.

- Only survived the first winter because of Powhatan’s help

BackgroundBackground

How does John Smith attitude change after he meets Pocahontas?

PowhatanPowhatan

Based on the movie, how many people did Powhatan have in his empire?

… How many warriors?

PowhatanPowhatanHad 28 to 34 tribes total

Legend tells that he may have had up to 100 wives

- Having a different child with each woman

Children would not live with him until they were old enough

Harsh ruler—collected payments of goods from his tribes up to 80 percent

John SmithJohn Smith

Based on the movie, describe what John Smith looked like?

John SmithJohn Smith

Based on the movie, how old do you think that John Smith was when he met Pocahontas?

John SmithJohn Smith John Smith was 28 when he met Pocahontas

Red-haired, short, full beard, wore buffy pants (not armor)

He did not go out to look for natives immediately.

- He was arrested on the voyage and was not released until a month already in Jamestown

PocahontasPocahontas

Based on the movie, how old do you think that Pocahontas was when she met John Smith?

PocahontasPocahontas

Pocahontas was 11 when she met Smith

Would not have worn a dress (may have had tattoos)

Pocahontas & Smith meetPocahontas & Smith meet

The meetingThe meetingThey DID NOT meet until she saved him from execution

- He was not capture sneaking away to see her- He was captured after he and another

Englishman went out exploring by themselves

Some question if it really happened at all- Smith liked to talk about how women always

rescued him (his account is the only that we have)- Colonists did not know that he was there

Their relationshipTheir relationshipWere NEVER in love with one another, just friends

She would often go to the fort to visit him, until…

- She was told that he was dead, so she stopped visiting for a while

In 1609, a gun powder bag exploded, injuring Smith. That’s why he went back to England.

PocahontasPocahontas Went to London (2nd movie)

- not voluntary, kidnapped

Ended up marrying John Rolfe

- credited with first cultivation of tobacco by English

PocahontasPocahontas Went to London (2nd movie)

- not voluntary, kidnapped

Ended up marrying John Rolfe

- credited with first cultivation of tobacco by English

Relationship with KocoumRelationship with KocoumOnly information we have about him is one line

- Pocahontas was married/engaged to Kocoum

- Custom for chief to give daughters away, but Pocahontas would not have any say

He did not die, but, natives had a custom of divorce by capture

- Since Pocahontas was kidnapped, she was free to marry someone else

1. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of Powhatan? What do you know about him in real life—appearance, personality, etc.?

2. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of John Smith? What do you know about him in real life—appearance, personality, etc.?

3. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of Pocahontas? What do you know about her in real life—appearance, personality, etc.?

4. Disney tells the story of Pocahontas saving John Smith differently then it happened in real life. How is it different? Tell me as many of these differences as you can.