Reference no: EM131133303

King Phillip's War was devastating to the New England colonists.

A huge blow to English sense of themselves - which was based on property, ownership - all that made the land their own = threatened; if building a house on land makes it yours, and if land defines who you are, then losing house = a blow
left then NAKED = Narragansett word for English = Wautaconaug - coatmen - one who wears clothes

Devastation left colonies dependent on England for support

Both sides tortured prisoners and mutilated the dead; killed women and children

For Indians, torture = admiration of stoicism as well as dominance

Many English saw this struggle as ordained by God; ministers held days of fasting and humiliation (Boston, Plymouth, all MA) - God was punishing then for their sins

In 1675, CT and Mass Bay did not celebrate Thanksgiving

Philip shot in August 12, 1676 in a swamp near Mt Hope; body beheaded and quartered; P's head on a pole in Plymouth

War did not end w P's death - fighting became less intense and less organized

In proportion to population, KPW inflicted greater casualties than any other war in America

Indians losses far higher - killed in battle, but most died of disease and starvation

Great Swamp battle = Dec 1675

Palisaded fort in swamp w 3-4000 Narragansetts - mostly women and children

Also storehouse of winter supplies

Burned everything - when Indians fled - were killed not even saving food for themselves - some solders died on retreat -

Well documented - 400 letters, 30 printed accounts - not all agreed on causes but most agreed what was at stake - their lives, land and sense of themselves - accounts turned Indians into monsters

Seen as God's retribution - Increase Mather: Why should we not suppose that God is not offended with us when his displeasure is written in such bloody characters?

Medfeld - Feb 20 - considered a frontier town surrounded by trees - soldiers - 20 horsemen and 8 foot solders staying w various families - 50 houses burned; 30 people killed knew exactly what they were doing - not mindless savagery as colonists thought. THOU ENGLISH MAN HATH PROVOKED US TO ANGER & WRATH & WE CARE NOT TRHOUGH WE HAVE WAR WITH YOU THIS 21 YEARS FOR THERE ARE MANY OF US 300 OF WHICH HATH FOUGHT WITH YOU AT THIS TOWN WE HAUVE NOTHING BUT OUR LIVES TO LOOSE BUT THOU HAST MANY FAIR HOUSES CATTELL & MUCH GOOD THINGS.

Not random or arbitrary. Symbolic and deliberate. CATTLE STRAYED ONTO Indian lands, ate their corn crops, required turning hunting grounds into pasture, etc

What was the basis of the hostilities? What did each side want? Who was able to achieve their desired goal?