John Easton’s Account of Wampanoag GrievancesJohn Easton’s Account of Wampanoag Grievances

Loss of land Interference in Indian governance Christian Indians Alcohol Land use conflicts (fencing and

livestock)

Loss of land Interference in Indian governance Christian Indians Alcohol Land use conflicts (fencing and

livestock)

The Breakdown of Indian-English

RelationsKing Philip’s War, 1675-1678King Philip’s War, 1675-1678

BackgroundBackground

Indian crisis: Decline in trade power: English abandoned wampum

use; Indians lost middleman position Continued attacks by Mohawks Lack of income > selling land Increasing English intrusions on Indian land and

authority English political crisis:

1664-1666 Royal Commissioners’ visit, challenging MA’s authority

1674-1683: renewal of royal investigations

Indian crisis: Decline in trade power: English abandoned wampum

use; Indians lost middleman position Continued attacks by Mohawks Lack of income > selling land Increasing English intrusions on Indian land and

authority English political crisis:

1664-1666 Royal Commissioners’ visit, challenging MA’s authority

1674-1683: renewal of royal investigations

OutbreakOutbreak

Prelude: Murder of John Sassamon, winter 1675

June 1675: Execution of Sassamon’s murderers in Plymouth

June 24, 1675: First killings at Swansea

Prelude: Murder of John Sassamon, winter 1675

June 1675: Execution of Sassamon’s murderers in Plymouth

June 24, 1675: First killings at Swansea

The Murder of John Sassamon

The Murder of John Sassamon

Key EventsKey Events

Nipmucks join fight, August 1675 Great Swamp fight, December 1675

Narragansetts forced out of neutrality

Indian attacks on frontier settlements, winter-spring 1676 50% of English towns attacked, abandoned,

or destroyed

Nipmucks join fight, August 1675 Great Swamp fight, December 1675

Narragansetts forced out of neutrality

Indian attacks on frontier settlements, winter-spring 1676 50% of English towns attacked, abandoned,

or destroyed

Why were Indians so successful?

Why were Indians so successful?

Indian fighting style better adapted to frontier

English reluctance to enter war English failure to use Indian allies

Indian fighting style better adapted to frontier

English reluctance to enter war English failure to use Indian allies

Contrasting fighting stylesContrasting fighting styles

Matchlocks vs flintlocks English remained in settlements,

garrison houses; Indians mobile Ambushes vs massed battle

Matchlocks vs flintlocks English remained in settlements,

garrison houses; Indians mobile Ambushes vs massed battle

English failure to use Indian allies

English failure to use Indian allies

Connecticut did use Mohegan and Pequot allies

Distrust of neutral Narragansetts Narragansetts gave refuge to Wampanoag

and other deserters Distrust of Christian Indians

Growing distrust of all Indians

Connecticut did use Mohegan and Pequot allies

Distrust of neutral Narragansetts Narragansetts gave refuge to Wampanoag

and other deserters Distrust of Christian Indians

Growing distrust of all Indians

Results of distrustResults of distrust

Christian Indians dropped from English service in Massachusetts and Plymouth

Restrictions placed on their movement; confined to Deer Island and Long Island in Massachusetts Bay

Champions of Christian Indians (Daniel Gookin, John Eliot) distrusted and abused

Christian Indians dropped from English service in Massachusetts and Plymouth

Restrictions placed on their movement; confined to Deer Island and Long Island in Massachusetts Bay

Champions of Christian Indians (Daniel Gookin, John Eliot) distrusted and abused

The War endsThe War ends

Canonchet, chief Narragansett leader, killed in spring 1676; loss of Indian leadership from death, disease, starvation

English again use Christian Indians as soldiers and guides, May 1676

Philip killed in August, 1676 War continues in Maine through 1678

Canonchet, chief Narragansett leader, killed in spring 1676; loss of Indian leadership from death, disease, starvation

English again use Christian Indians as soldiers and guides, May 1676

Philip killed in August, 1676 War continues in Maine through 1678

Death of Philip, Aug. 12, 1676Death of Philip, Aug. 12, 1676

AftermathAftermath

Drastic diminishment of Indian presence in New England About 3000 Indians dead; 60-80% died or

left New England for Canada or New York Many Indians sold into slavery Shift of Indians from 35% of population to

10% Praying towns reduced from 14 to 4

Drastic diminishment of Indian presence in New England About 3000 Indians dead; 60-80% died or

left New England for Canada or New York Many Indians sold into slavery Shift of Indians from 35% of population to

10% Praying towns reduced from 14 to 4

Disastrous impact on English as well Loss of 10% of male population 1200 houses burned, 8000 cattle killed,

thousands of barrels of grain burned 50% of English towns attacked, destroyed,

or abandoned Heavy war debt: Massachusetts: 150,000

pounds, Plymouth: 100,000 pounds Increased vulnerability to royal intervention

Disastrous impact on English as well Loss of 10% of male population 1200 houses burned, 8000 cattle killed,

thousands of barrels of grain burned 50% of English towns attacked, destroyed,

or abandoned Heavy war debt: Massachusetts: 150,000

pounds, Plymouth: 100,000 pounds Increased vulnerability to royal intervention