Question

Which of the following best explains why the Pilgrims’ relationship with the Indians changed upon meeting Samoset and Squanto? Option 1: The Indians did not notice the Pilgrims until Samoset and Squanto spotted them, and vice versa. Option 2: Samoset and Squanto’s jobs were to greet and welcome European settlers who had arrived on their land. Option 3: The Pilgrims were desperate for food and Samoset and Squanto immediately invited them to a feast. Option 4: Samoset and Squanto were the first Indians the Pilgrims met who spoke English and helped tensions between the two groups.

Answer 1

The Pilgrims' relationship with the local Indians improved greatly with the help of Samoset and Squanto, who provided language translation and key survival techniques, which led to a historical peace treaty establishing a long-lasting alliance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the Pilgrims and the local Indians changed upon meeting Samoset and Squanto due to the significant language and cultural bridges they provided. Samoset, who had learned some English from fishermen, was the first to greet the Pilgrims, whereas Squanto, who spoke English well due to time spent in England, offered invaluable aid in survival techniques such as using local herring to fertilize crops, thereby forging vital diplomatic and personal connections. Furthermore, Squanto became instrumental as an interpreter, facilitating the negotiation of a peace treaty between the Plymouth settlers and the Wampanoag tribe, led by the sachem Massasoit, which ensured that neither party would harm the other and promised mutual assistance in times of warfare, culminating in a 24-year alliance.