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Pocahontas and Sacagawea are both historical identities that are valued greatly by the American nation. They both helped improve the relations between Native Americans and exploring Europeans, who came to discover their lands. Their impact was forever perpetuated in the US postage stamps, and their names are mentioned only with honor and commemoration. However, let us explain what is similar between these ladies and what their main differences are.
Comparing Pocahontas and Sacagawea
Diligent Sacagawea
Sacagawea was an aboriginal Shoshone living at the end of 18th and beginning of 19th centuries. Her sorrowful fate decided to make her a wife of French-Canadian explorer Toussaint Charbonneau unwillingly after she was captured by the opposing tribe during numerous battles. However, she is most famous not for her pitiful sufferings. Her invaluable help to Lewis and Clark during their expeditions helped both find the routes to the Pacific. Sacagawea was aware of the lands around her, so it wasn’t difficult to show the path she had been wandering for so long. She helped them with the provision and natural medications; her insurance made it possible for them to get through the local tribes peacefully. Moreover, her trading negotiations left both sides satisfied with what they got. Finally, her interpreter skills were greatly appreciated by the American explorers.
Passionate Pocahontas
The story of Pocahontas began much earlier. She was born in 1595 in a family of a Powhatan chief. Her excellent negotiating skills allowed her native tribe to become friends with permanent American settlement – Jamestown colony. Apart from her communicating skills, Pocahontas helped the explorers greatly with the food when the colony was on the verge of starvation. Her amazing, brave action of saving John Smith is a remarkable moment in the American history. Even though the man was sentenced to death for trespassing the native areas, Pocahontas defied for him with her head. Later on, the amazing woman got married to John Rolfe and even made the incredible journey across the ocean.
Reason for Different Popularity
Such women as Sacagawea and Pocahontas showed the real brevity of female character. They were strong enough to help the strangers and accustom to their culture to stop the internecine violence between their tribes and explorers. However, apart from the girls’ amazing deeds, Pocahontas is known to be more popular than Sacagawea. The reason for this is covered in a romantic relationship. Her passionate marriage to John Rolfe and subsequent journey to his native country became perpetuated events in the American history. On the contrary, Sacagawea was married three times and was not a monogamous lover.
Important Females
In general, Pocahontas story is more successful and less tragic. Even rumors of her connections with John Smith are more passionate than Sacagawea’s three marriages. Pocahontas is perpetuated in modern pop culture in books, movies, and even cartoons, while less famous Sacagawea doesn’t have such nobility. Even though two women differ for popularity, they still remain significant characters in the life of native Americans and their help to the first explorers on the continent.
