Native Americans: Political History and Notable Figures

1570s - Iroquois Confederation (All Facts)

Wingina (All Facts)

• Native American Chief on Roanoke Island

• He was killed by Ralph Lane, who headed off a Native American attack

Manteo (All Facts)

• Native American Chief to the Native American village called Croatoan

• It was theorized by John White, Governor of Roanoke Island, that the English colonists who abandoned the settlement followed the namesake to Croatoan, which would have been safer than the original settlement site on Roanoke Island

Powhatan (All Facts)

• Native American Chief who spared John Smith’s life after the pleas of his daughter Pocahontas

1596 - 1617 - Rebecca Rolfe / Pocahontas (All Facts)

• Native-American Princess who

  • saved John Smith’s life from other hostile natives

  • aided the English colony of Virginia (Jamestown) with food and protection

  • had a father, chief of the Algonquin, who fought the English settlers, but approved her marriage to John Rolfe, thus leaving his enemies in peace

  • thus married John Rolfe

  • was baptized and had her name changed as a result

  • sat with King James of England, at a Ben Jonson masque, with her husband