1. Pocahontas The Real Story

2. 1. In one paragraph, explain the plot of the movie.
If you haven’t seen it, explain what you know or think you know about Pocahantas.

3. Background There were 3 ships, not 1
- Godspeed, Susan Constant, and Discovery.

4. Background 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 later on.
Wingfield was the original. Did not stay president for long. Smith replaced him!

5. Background
Early on, all of the colonists were looking for gold—no one wanted to farm.
- Only survived the first winter because of Chief Powhatan’s help.

6. Background
2. How does John Smith’s attitude change after he meets Pocahontas?

7. Powhatan
3. Based on the movie, how many people did Powhatan have in his empire?
4. How many warriors?
5. What was Chief Powhatan like?

8. Powhatan Had 28 to 34 tribes he was in charge of.
Legend tells that he may have had up to 100 wives!
Having a different child with each woman.
Pocahontas was not even close to being his only child.
Children would not live with him until they were old enough
Harsh ruler—collected payments of goods from his tribes up to 80 percent.

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

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

11. John Smith
What he REALLY looked like…

12. John Smith John Smith was 28 when he met Pocahontas
Red-haired, short, full beard, wore puffy 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.
Stirred up trouble on ship and was accused of trying to organize a mutiny.

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

14. Pocahontas Pocahontas was 11 (almost 12) when she met Smith.
Would not have worn a dress.
May have had many tattoos.

15. Pocahontas & Smith Meet

16. The REAL Meeting…
They 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.

17. Their Relationship… Were 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.

18. Pocahontas In the second movie she went to London.
Not voluntary, kidnapped.
Ended up marrying John Rolfe
Credited with first cultivation of tobacco by English

19. Pocahontas

20. Relationship with Kocoum
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.

21. 9. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of Powhatan
9. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of Powhatan? What do you know about him in real life—appearance, personality, etc.? 10. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of John Smith? What do you know about him in real life—appearance, personality, etc.? 11. What are some ways Disney misrepresents the character of Pocahontas? What do you know about her in real life—appearance, personality, etc.? 12. Explain why you think that Disney chose to not tell the REAL story of Pocahontas.