2. In addition to the military defeats inflicted upon the Powhatan Confederacy, a smallpox epidemic in 1617 resulted to a significant loss of lives among the Native American population, killing an estimated 90% in some areas. The loss of so many people further weakened the Confederacy and made it difficult for them to resist the English advance.
3. Finally, the political unity of the Powhatan Confederacy began to break down after Chief Powhatan's death in 1618. The Confederacy was actually comprised of several autonomous tribes that were only united under Powhatan's leadership. With his death, there was no single leader who commanded the respect of all the tribes, and this led to divisions within the Confederacy. These divisions made the Confederacy vulnerable to further attack by the English.
In summary, the Powhatan Confederacy came to an end due to the military defeats by English colonists, devastating disease, and internal divisions.