Overview
This lecture examines the complex relationship between the New England colonists and Native Americans, highlighting early cooperation, trade, deteriorating relations, and the impact of King Philip's War.
Early Relations and Trade
- Approximately 60,000 Native Americans lived in the New England area when English settlers arrived in the 1600s.
- Initial interactions included both conflict and cooperation over land and resources.
- Trade and bartering were essential, with Native Americans providing skins, food, and knowledge, and settlers trading beads and wampum.
- Wampum, used as currency, sometimes held religious significance.
- The first Bible in the New World was translated into the Algonquin language, indicating spiritual exchanges.
- Plymouth Colony became self-sufficient within five years due to cooperation with local Native peoples.
Cultural and Religious Exchange
- Puritan Christianity was the main religion of the New England colonies.
- Over time, some colonists, like Roger Williams, challenged mainstream views and advocated purchasing land from Native Americans.
- Some colonial governments used Native population losses as a justification for Christian conversion and forced relocation to "praying towns".
Disease and Deteriorating Relations
- European diseases like smallpox, measles, and tuberculosis devastated Native populations, who lacked immunity.
- Some colonists interpreted Native suffering from disease as divine approval for their settlement.
King Philip's War (First Indian War)
- Conflict escalated in 1675 when Plymouth Colony executed three Wampanoag people.
- The Wampanoag leader, Metacom (King Philip), led resistance against colonists, joined by other tribes.
- Certain tribes sided with the colonists, including the Mohegans and Mohawks.
- The war lasted 14 months, ending in 1676 with massive losses, especially for Native Americans.
- A treaty in 1678 formally ended the conflict.
- Over 600 colonists and thousands of Native Americans died; many settlements were destroyed.
Legacy and Duality
- The history of the New England colonies reflects both cooperation and devastating conflict between Native and immigrant cultures.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Wampum — Beads made from shells, used as currency and for ceremonial purposes by Native Americans.
- Praying towns — Settlements created to convert and relocate Native Americans to Christianity.
- King Philip's War — A deadly conflict (1675–1676) between New England colonists and Native American groups led by Metacom.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the events and consequences of King Philip's War.
- Study the impact of disease on Native American societies in New England.