Causes Of The Phillips War

The Philips war was from 1675-1676 and was the last attempt by the Native Americans located in Southern New England, to get rid of English settlers.The war was also known as “Metacoms rebellion.”

They believe that the major cause of the war was the execution of the Philips warrior by Plymouth colony. They had been found guilty of murdering John Sassamon. That had agitated the Indians and English that had been smoldering for about 55 years over territories, racial insensitivities, and the English encroaching on Indian land.

For over 6 months, colonial militias and Native Americans would raid parties from modern day Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Coastal Maine. The Narragonsett tribe had tried to avoid these raids, but some

warriors had decided to participate in the raids against the Militia, and colonial strongholds. The tribe had had violated the peace treaty, leading to the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, and Connecticut to create the largest colonial army put together to date in New England. It had 1000 militia members and 150 Indian allies. Josiah Winslow was the marshal of Plymouth colony and colonial militia and he had traveled towards Rhode Island. The territory of the Narragansett tribe. Their main goal was to attack the tribe before they could “muster” a spring offense. The militia had burned down abandoned villages along their way to the tribe's territory.

On the morning of December 19th, there had been a freezing cold snow storm. The militia and it’s allies had begun attacking the Narragonsetts main fort. By, evening they had burnt down the fort, and started burning down the homes and food supplies of the tribe. About 150 Indians were burnt alive. The militia had 70 dead and 150 wounded. Due to the weakened state the tribe had joined the Anti-English war effort.

In late spring 1676, more colonies had joined the Connecticut’s lead by having friendly Indians join them. By September the colonists and allies had ruined the Native American apposition located in Southern New England. They had killed a lot of Native Americans and put some of them into slavery. 600 white men had been killed in this effort.

The war had ended in August 1676, due to the capturing of Metacom and his beheading some of his tribe had escaped to Canada, and others had surrendered and were sent off to become slaves.