King Philip's War

Quick Facts: Who was King Philip's War?

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King Philip's War

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A devastating 1675–1678 conflict between Puritan settlers and Algonquian tribes in New England.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

King Philip's War (1675–1678) was a colonial war in which a coalition of Algonquian tribes of the Northeastern Woodlands—the Wampanoags, the Pocomtucs, the Nipmucs, and the Narragansetts—fought against the Puritan settlers of the New England Colonies and their Indian allies—the Mohegans, the Pequots, and Christian Indians. The war continued in the most northern reaches of New England until the signing of the Treaty of Casco Bay on April 12, 1678. The British colonization of the New England began in the 17th century, with roughly 20,000 Puritan settlers establishing and joining colonies in North America—primarily Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony—in the Great Migration of 1620–40 alone. Massasoit, chief sachem of the indigenous Wampanoag tribe, had made and maintained an agreement with the colonists. Massasoit's younger son Metacom (c. 1638–1676), named King Philip by the settlers, became the sachem in 1662 after the death of his father and his older brother Wamsutta (c. 1634–1662).

Career & Major Achievements

Metacom, however, forsook his father's alliance between the Wampanoags and the colonists after repeated violations by the latter. The colonists insisted that the 1671 peace agreement should include the surrender of Native guns; then three Wampanoags were hanged in Plymouth Colony in 1675 for the murder of John Sassamon, a Wampanoag schoolmaster and interpreter, which increased tensions. Native raiding parties attacked homesteads and villages throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine over the next six months, and the colonial militia retaliated. The colonies assembled the largest army that New England had yet mustered, consisting of 1,000 militia and 150 Native allies. Governor Josiah Winslow marshaled them to attack the Narragansetts in November 1675.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

They attacked and burned Native villages throughout Rhode Island territory, culminating with the attack on the Narragansetts' main fort in the Great Swamp Fight. An estimated 600 Narragansetts were killed, and their coalition was taken over by Narragansett sachem Canonchet. They pushed back the borders of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Rhode Island colonies, burning towns as they went, including Providence in March 1676. However, the colonial militia overwhelmed the Native coalition following the Mohawk decision to side with the colonial alliance. By the end of the war, the Wampanoags and their Narragansett allies were almost completely destroyed.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1620: 1620 Milestone — The British colonization of the New England began in the 17th century, with roughly 20,000 Puritan settlers establishing and joining colonies in North America—primarily Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony—in the Great Migration of 1620–40 alone.
2. 1638: 1638 Milestone — 1638–1676), named King Philip by the settlers, became the sachem in 1662 after the death of his father and his older brother Wamsutta (c.
3. 1671: 1671 Milestone — The colonists insisted that the 1671 peace agreement should include the surrender of Native guns; then three Wampanoags were hanged in Plymouth Colony in 1675 for the murder of John Sassamon, a Wampanoag schoolmaster and interpreter, which increased tensions.
4. 1675: 1675 Milestone — King Philip's War (1675–1678) was a colonial war in which a coalition of Algonquian tribes of the Northeastern Woodlands—the Wampanoags, the Pocomtucs, the Nipmucs, and the Narragansetts—fought against the Puritan settlers of the New England Colonies and their Indian allies—the Mohegans, the Pequots, and Christian Indians.
5. 1676: 1676 Milestone — They pushed back the borders of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Rhode Island colonies, burning towns as they went, including Providence in March 1676.
6. 1678: 1678 Milestone — The war continued in the most northern reaches of New England until the signing of the Treaty of Casco Bay on April 12, 1678.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: King Philip's War

True or False: “The primary cause of King Philip's War was solely the colonists' desire for more land.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While land disputes were central, the war stemmed from a complex breakdown of diplomacy following repeated violations and cultural misunderstandings between both groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions about King Philip's War