The Jamestown Massacre 1622 | English - Powhatan Wars

The Jamestown Massacre The Jamestown Massacre was a conflict between the English colonists and the Powhatan Confederacy of Native Americans that happened in 1622 in Virginia. The Powhatan Confederacy was a political, social, and martial entity of over 30 Algonquin-speaking Native American tribes of the region of modern-day Virginia, Maryland, and part of North Carolina. The start of this Native Confederacy can be traced back to when Chief Powhatan, whose proper name was Wahansikav, was made leader of the Powhatan tribe by his mother. Initially, he had six tribes under his control, the Appomattox, the Arohatak, the Chiskiak, the Mattaponi, the Pamunkey, and the Powhatan tribe. Beginning with six tribes, Powhatan expanded his reign from his village of Wairakamako throughout the region by bringing other tribes under his control. He accomplished this through attacks on other tribes, killed their chief and elders, later replacing these with Powhatan's sons, trusted family members, or responsible members of the Confederacy. He also used diplomacy, making clear to tribal chiefs the benefit of joining the Confederacy, and bribery. By 1607, the Powhatan Confederacy had at least 30 tribes. Each tribe had its own chief under Powhatan and paid tribute that was later redistributed with others. The tribe's economy was based on agriculture and trade, as well as prizes taken in battles from other Native groups, especially the Iroquois Confederacy, with whom they were at war. The Jamestown Colony and First Conflicts At first, the English established the Roanoke Colony in 1585 and again in 1587 in Virginia, but it did not survive past 1590. The Jamestown Colony of Virginia was established by the English in 1607. The Natives, therefore, were already acquainted with Europeans and the experiences had been far from pleasant. The Powhatan Confederacy did not mind the English at first because they had chosen a swamp of unusable land for their settlement and thought the English might serve as allies against the Spanish and other hostile tribes. Chief Powhatan ordered his people to supply the ill-equipped colonists with food and supplies. The English were used to receiving gifts from the Natives and trading instead of tending for themselves. This would turn up as a problem later on. With time, the English took more food and occupied more land outside of Jamestown. These actions led Chief Powhatan to order them inside their settlement and to give his warriors leave to kill anyone found outside the fortifications. Powhatan's choice contributed to what is known as the Starving Time in Jamestown's history, during which over 80% of the colonists died. Also, an English captain named John Smith was captured by the Natives and brought to Powhatan. His daughter Pocahontas arguably negotiated his release. The First Powhatan War, 1610-1614. In 1610, the English instituted a policy of which set off the First Powhatan War, a series of guerrilla strikes and counter-strikes, killing many on both sides. On one side, the Natives were more successful in the guerrilla warfare, using their bows and arrows against the English musket that needed more time to reload. On the other side, the English launched raids against Native villages, killing the population and stealing supplies. They also received fresh fighting men from Europe as reserves, a luxury the Natives didn't have. While the war raged on, colonial settlements were established further inland. In 1610, a man arrived named John Rolfe. He came with hybrid tobacco seeds which he planted, and by 1614, he was a wealthy man with a large plantation across the river from the Henricus Colony, north of Jamestown. That same year, the English kidnapped Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan, holding her for ransom at Henricus. Chief Powhatan agreed to the terms of her release and sent the colonists the tools, weapons, and prisoners requested, but the English kept Pocahontas. She converted to Christianity, taking the name Rebecca, and married John Rolfe in 1614. Chief Powhatan and the colonial authorities both approved of the union, and so ended the First Powhatan War. Pocahontas, Rolfe, their young son Thomas Rolfe, and a number of Powhatan family and tribal members, including Tomokomo, who was Pocahontas' brother-in-law, set for England in 1617. Tomokomo's task was to gather information and make a report on the English. On the way back, Pocahontas fell ill and died. When he returned, Tomokomo criticized the English harshly, before a council of elders and chiefs, but was shamed into silence by a colonial delegation, which counted his claims that the English could not be trusted. While his grandson Thomas was left in the care of Rolfe's brother in England, Chief Powhatan kept the peace, but stepped down as chief after his daughter's death. He died shortly after, in 1618. The New Chief With the death of Powhatan, it was time to choose a new chief. His stepbrother, Opikankinu, was chosen as chief. Opikankinu believed Tomokomo and kept his statements as true. In 1611, the English had founded the settlement of Henricus. The first college in North America was founded close by, for the purpose of educating Native American youth in Christian faith and European culture. Since in 1619, the newly formed peace was in order, Pocahontas' conversion had encouraged the hope that more natives would follow her example. Opikankinu believed this was a good way to maintain good relations, so he encouraged his people to do so. In fact, he led by example, which led the colonists to believe further in the peaceful intentions of the tribes. John Rolfe remarried and advocated for fair treatment with the natives. In 1621, Opikankinu's war chief, Namatnu, was killed by the colonists because he killed a colonist and took his clothes. Opikankinu took no revenge, saying he deserved it, but it's debated if he really meant it. At about that same time, he and his brother Opichapam took war names in preparation for the attack and called on the tribes to participate in a ceremony honoring the life of Powhatan. They celebrated his life and took intelligence about the English, working routines, and so on. The Massacre The morning of March 22, 1622 began as any other with the colonists going to work on their farms and in their shops. Early that morning, the natives slipped into European settlements, knocking on doors and asking to be let in. Most were familiar visitors. They came unarmed. Many accepted a meal or a drink. Then they seized whatever weapons came to hand. Kitchen knives, heavy stewpots, the colonists' own guns, and killed everyone in the houses. The assault was brutal, widespread, and well-planned. The blows were so swift that many Englishmen died without knowing they were under attack. Entire families fell and their houses burned across the land. The number killed is hard to determine, but is usually given as 347. The college, hospital, and colony of Henricus were completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants killed, including John Rolfe. Settlements were burned all across the region. Aftermath After the attack, the Powhatans could have easily finished the survivors off. Those outside of Jamestown would have been easy enough to kill as they had no defenses, and Jamestown could have been set on fire, with fleeing colonists then killed as they tried to escape. Instead, the natives did nothing but wait for a response. They believed the English would leave as native tribes would do in case of such defeat. However, the English did not leave, and the war went on. This attack marked the beginning of the Second Powhatan War. The war continued until Opequan Canoes sued for peace in 1626, but hostilities went on through 1629 and into the 1630s in some areas. Later on, the Third Powhatan War started in 1644 and lasted until 1646. We'll cover conflicts after the Jamestown Massacre in detail in other videos.