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king philip's war By Cadet Badillo
King Philip's War (1675-77) was a total war for survival, and involved extensive operations by both provisional and standing militia units. King Philip's War was fought in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During King Philip's War, up to one third of America's white population was wiped out. This was King Phillip’s war club
Metacom, known as King Philip, was chief of the Wampanoag Indians and son of Massasoit, who lived peacefully with the settlers since the arrival of the Pilgrims. King Philip, however, saw that whites were expanding into Indian territory, and made plans to resist. King Philip and a band of Wampanoags vandalized a frontier community in the 17th century, had begun.
The two cultures’ different ways of life and concepts of land use had caused tension for many years. A continuing problem was the trampling of Native cornfields by colonists’ livestock. While colonists were legally responsible for damage, such laws were difficult to enforce in remote areas such as Rehoboth and Taunton. Increased competition for resources (particularly land for planting, hunting and fishing) caused friction between the two groups.
Although the Narragansett and Nipmuck Indians joined forces with the Wampanoags, King Philip sensed defeat and fled into the forest. The near annihilation of the Narragansett Indians in 1676 ended hostilities, leaving six hundred colonists and even more Indians, including King Philip, dead.
King Philip's War was the first conflict in which the Indians had modern flintlock firearms. This proved an important advantage because some of the American militias were only equipped with matchlocks and pikes, and because the Indians were excellent marksmen.
In 1662, in an arrogant attempt to exert control, the Plymouth Court summoned Wampanoag leader Wamsutta to Plymouth. Major Josiah Winslow and a small force took Wamsutta at gunpoint. Soon after questioning, Wamsutta sickened and died. His death greatly angered the Wampanoag
The outcome of King Philip’s War was devastating to the traditional way of life for Native People in New England. Hundreds of Natives who fought with Philip were sold into slavery abroad. Others, especially women and children, were forced to become servants locally. As the traditional base of existence changed due to the Colonists’ victory, the Wampanoag and other local Native communities had to adapt certain aspects of their culture in order to survive.
