Algonquian Indians were the indigenous people already inhabiting the land when John Smith and his people arrived. There were approximately 14,000 of these people all under the rule of a powerful leader known as Powhatan. The Algonquian people were a subsistence culture, meaning they only had enough food for themselves, and could not provide for the hundreds of English men that arrived on their land. Even though the indigenous people did not have much, they still offered small amounts of food out of hospitality. As a result of the Englishmen not bringing over farmers they became very dependent on the Indians to supply for them and expected them to continue supplying them. Before arriving in Virginia, the English did not plan to make and supply
