Soap Stone

Source 

Who wrote the document? 

Edward Waterhouse 

What is the author’s background/point of view?  

Edward was the secretary to the Virginia Company of London, which is the company that sponsored the Jamestown settlement.

Whose point of view, given the topic, is missing?  

The Native Americans.

Do you consider the source a reliable one on this topic?  Why/why not? 

It is reliable in what they plan to do with the Natives in order to solve their problem, but it does not tell you how the English are at fault for what they did to insight the Natives.

Occasion  

When was the document written?  

1622

What does the date of the document tell you about its content? 

Jamestown was founded fifteen years before the document was written.

What other historical events were going on during this time? 

Chief Powhatan died leaving his brother as his successor, who was not as friendly with the English.

Audience  

To whom is the author writing?

The document was written for investors of the Virginia Company of London.  

What type of document is this (diary entry, personal letter, public speech, 
etc.)? 

This was most likely a business flier.    

Does the private/public nature of the document inform you about its content 
(is the author sharing private thoughts, making a public pronouncement, 
etc.)? 

This is most likely a little private just for the investors to know why they might be loosing money.

Purpose 

 
Why was the document written?  What is the purpose of the document?  

The document was written to inform investors and offer a solution to their Native problem.

What is the document saying? 

That the Natives are savages and slaughtered hundreds of English residents, and with more money they can drive out and kill all the native for good which afterwards would increase revenue. 

Tone

What is the attitude of the speaker?

Vengeful, because he wants reparations from the natives in the form of blood.