Considered one of our country’s founding fathers, Smith had a challenging life. His characteristics made him seem fearless among many. During his adolescent years he became a soldier and helped the Dutch fight for independence. From the readings you would assume John Smith being a brave, smart, and adventurous individual, but his work is very questionable. Settlers believed in him because of the efforts he showed saving the Jamestown colony from starvation. In the end many who respected him for his leadership skills turned away from him after his return to the Jamestown colony. Smith created many stories about his explorations during this time. His best known work was entitled The General History of Virginia. Without this information the colony in the new world would have no place in history. The question still remains amongst many historians were the tales of his rescue by Pocahontas true events. My reaction to his work is questionable; I have read about his courageous acts and his bravery, yet did he go overboard in order to receive this recognition of being a leader. Many writers say he is a founding father of the New World, like all no one give credit to the Native Americans that existed before any settlers discovered what we know today as America. Smith also contributed with his drawings of the Map of Virginia, which was used by many settlers exploring the area known today as Virginia.
My thoughts from the assigned reading selection can be very argumentative and debatable. Did the English settlers who came to
Cited: Captain John Smith. n.d. 18 January 2013. <http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/captain-john-smith/>. Captain John Smith Chesapeake. n.d. 18 January 2013. <http://smith.npschesapeakebay.net/native-americans/indians-smith/smith-powhatan-pocahontas>. Trail, National Historic. Captain John Smith Chesapeake. n.d. 14 February 2013. "John Smith 1580-1631." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 2012. 81-99.