Encyclopedic Study Guide: From 17th Century Conflict to the American Revolution

Violence was endemic during the seventeenth century as colonial expansion generated conflict between Europeans and Native Americans, as well as internal colonial strife. The Pequot War (1637) was a conflict in New England that devastated Pequot communities and provided English colonies with security and territory for expanded settlement.

A generation after the Pequot War, King Philip’s War (1675–1676) arose when Narragansetts and Mohegans, previously allies of the English, joined forces with the Wampanoags against colonists. The spark of this conflict was the mysterious death of John Sassamon, a Harvard-educated Christian Wampanoag, whose death led to the execution of three warriors under sachem Metacom, known to the English as King Philip. The escalating violence included the killing of nine colonists in Swansea and saw the Wampanoags retaliating explosively. Panic spread throughout English towns as Native groups devastated communities. In the Great Swamp Fight (December 1675), colonial forces attacked the neutral Narragansetts, leading to substantial loss of life. The turning point of the war occurred in spring 1676, when the English leveraged Native allies to track their foes. Metacom was ultimately slain in August 1676, and the conflict left significant casualties on both sides, diminishing the Native American population in New England from 25% to 10% by 1680.

The Salem Witch Trials (1692–1693) saw paranoia engulf Salem Town and surrounding areas, resulting in the execution of fourteen women and six men, with five others dying in prison. This was fueled by local rivalries, political turmoil, trauma from previous wars, and flawed legal procedures. Tituba, an enslaved woman central to the proceedings, exemplified the tragic ramifications of these events.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) illustrated the growing tensions in Virginia, where wealthy landowners clashed with poor former indentured servants seeking to expand westward. The rebellion was instigated by a dispute over pigs taken by the Doeg tribe, escalating into broader violence. Governor Sir William Berkeley's defensive strategy was perceived as favoring the wealthy elite, leading to a charismatic leader, Nathaniel Bacon, rallying colonists against both hostile and friendly Native Americans. The insurrection culminated in a showdown in Jamestown, where Bacon demanded authority for military action. Bacon's death from typhus led to a brutal crackdown on rebellion leaders, and through the legislative changes that followed, the conditions for poor whites were somewhat improved, while the shift towards slavery intensified.

The Pueblo Revolt (1680) was another significant uprising, led by religious leader Popé against Spanish repression of Native beliefs. Thousands of warriors attacked Spanish settlements, resulting in a short-lived success that ended with the reassertion of Spanish control after twelve years. The Yamasee War (1715) involved Native American tribes in Carolina clashing over trade disputes, leading to reliance on alliances with the Cherokee. Similarly, the Walking Purchase (1737) saw the Delaware leaders agreeing to cede land based on deceptive terms, leading to further displacement of Natives.

The eighteenth century also marked a changing social landscape with the rise of the Consumer Revolution, transforming luxury goods into everyday items. This change was propelled by rising incomes and falling prices, coupled with the development of commodity money due to a lack of British currency. The northern colonies engaged in trade with Caribbean sugar islands, which immensely influenced the economy. Women played a crucial role in this economy by managing stalls and engaging in trade, while indigenous trade networks evolved, as seen with the horse trade among the Oceti Sakowin.

Colonial governance varied, with three main types: provincial, proprietary, and charter. The evolving structure was influenced by Enlightenment ideals, with governmental authority perceived as a social contract. Educational changes were evident in the growing print culture, which allowed new ideas and political challenges to flourish. The Great Awakening also catalyzed religious fervor, splitting churches between revived faith and traditional skepticism. Finally, the events leading to the American Revolution were marked by rising tensions over taxes and governance, fueling a burgeoning sense of identity and the quest for autonomy among the colonists, culminating in a call for independence.

"Violence was endemic during the seventeenth century as colonial expansion generated conflict between Europeans and Native Americans, as well as internal colonial strife." (Page 164)

"The Pequot War (1637) was a conflict in New England that devastated Pequot communities and provided English colonies with security and territory for expanded settlement." (Page 164)

"A generation after the Pequot War, King Philip’s War (1675–1676) arose when Narragansetts and Mohegans, previously allies of the English, joined forces with the Wampanoags against colonists." (Page 165)

"The spark of this conflict was the mysterious death of John Sassamon, a Harvard-educated Christian Wampanoag, whose death led to the execution of three warriors under sachem Metacom, known to the English as King Philip." (Page 166)

"The escalating violence included the killing of nine colonists in Swansea and saw the Wampanoags retaliating explosively." (Page 167)

"Panic spread throughout English towns as Native groups devastated communities. In the Great Swamp Fight (December 1675), colonial forces attacked the neutral Narragansetts, leading to substantial loss of life." (Page 168)

"The turning point of the war occurred in spring 1676, when the English leveraged Native allies to track their foes." (Page 169)

"Metacom was ultimately slain in August 1676, and the conflict left significant casualties on both sides, diminishing the Native American population in New England from 25% to 10% by 1680." (Page 170)