King Philip's War: Civil War in New England, 1675-1676 (Native Americans of the Northeast: Culture, History, & the Contemporary)

Sometimes described as "America's deadliest war," King Philip's War proved a critical turning point in the history of New England, leaving English colonists decisively in command of the region at the expense of native peoples. Although traditionally understood as an inevitable clash of cultures or as a classic example of conflict on the frontier between Indians and whites, in the view of James D. Drake it was neither. Instead, he argues, King Philip's War was a civil war, whose divisions cut across ethnic lines and tore apart a society composed of English colonizers and Native Americans alike. According to Drake, the interdependence that developed between English and Indian in the years leading up to the war helps explain its notorious brutality. Believing they were dealing with an internal rebellion and therefore with an act of treason, the colonists and their native allies often meted out harsh punishments. The end result was nothing less than the decimation of New England's indigenous peoples and the consequent social, political, and cultural reorganization of the region. In short, by waging war among themselves, the English and Indians of New England destroyed the world they had constructed together. In its place a new society emerged, one in which native peoples were marginalized and the culture of the New England Way receded into the past.

sometimes Described As America's Deadliest War, King Philip's War Proved A Critical Turning Point In The History Of New England, Leaving English Colonists Decisively In Command Of The Region At The Expense Of Native Peoples. Although Traditionally Understood As An Inevitable Clash Of Cultures Or As A Classic Example Of Conflict On The Frontier Between Indians And Whites, In The View Of James D. Drake It Was Neither. Instead, He Argues, King Philip's War Was A Civil War, Whose Divisions Cut Across Ethnic Lines And Tore Apart A Society Composed Of English Colonizers And Native Americans Alike.

according To Drake, The Interdependence That Developed Between English And Indian In The Years Leading Up To The War Helps Explain Its Notorious Brutality. Believing They Were Dealing With An Internal Rebellion And Therefore With An Act Of Treason, The Colonists And Their Native Allies Often Meted Out Harsh Punishments. The End Result Was Nothing Less Than The Decimation Of New England's Indigenous Peoples And The Consequent Social, Political, And Cultural Reorganization Of The Region.

in Short, By Waging War Among Themselves, The English And Indians Of New England Destroyed The World They Had Constructed Together. In Its Place A New Society Emerged, One In Which Native Peoples Were Marginalized And The Culture Of The New England Way Receded Into The Past.

publishers Weekly

in 1675, The Native American Leader Metacom--whom The English Called King Philip--led The Wampanoags And Other Indians Against New England's More Than 50,000 Colonists It Was An Especially Violent And Brutal War: Thousands Died (the Indian Population In Particular Was Decimated), The English Won And Metacom's Head Was Impaled On A Stake And Planted At Plymouth. Historians Have Often Described The War As A Clash Between Civilized English And Barbaric Indians--both The Clash Itself And The Outcome Are Considered As Inevitable. In This New Study, Drake Suggests Otherwise, Offering A Capacious, Compelling And Convincing Alternate Interpretation. To Imagine That 17th-century New England Consisted Of Two Societies-one English, One Indian--is Simplistic, He Says; Drake, Influenced By Richard White's Concept Of The Middle Ground, Argues That Colonists And Indians Had Forged A Unique Hybrid Society. Drake Illustrates With A Delightful Analogy From The Chemical World: Like The Atoms In A Covalent Chemical Bond, Wherein Distinct Atoms Bond Together By Sharing Electrons, The Indians And The English Became One Society By Virtue Of Their Shared Social Space And Economy, As Well As By Their Overlapping Legal And Political Systems. The War, Then, Is Best Understood As A Civil War, One That Destroyed These Interdependent Cultures Forever--political Power Was Shifted Toward The Colonists After The War, And There Was Increased Infighting Among Various English Factions, Once Stabilized By The Presence Of A Sizable Indian Population. Drake Offers A More Original And Convincing Interpretation Of King Philip's War Than Jill Lepore Did In Her 1998 Study The Name Of War. If Readers Are Going To Rely On Only One Study, It Should Be This One. 4 Illus. (jan.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

This text looks at the 1675 war between the English colonists and the indigenous people of New England, which decimated the region's native population. The author examines the causes of the conflict, and its effects on the relationship between the two cultures. Contents Note on the Text Introduction 1 Chiefs and Followers 2 Peace 3 Symbol of a Failed Strategy 4 Fault Lines 5 “Barbarous Inhumane Outrages” 6 Victory and Defeat 7 Legacies Conclusion Notes Acknowledgments Index