King Philips War

King Philip's War: A Civil War

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines war as "a state of widespread conflict between states, organizations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterized by the use of violent, physical force between combatants or upon civilians", and civil war as "war between factions of the same country." More specifically, a civil war is an internalized war between people who inhabit the same territory. During the 1600's, where newly forming America consisted of both the English colonies and the indigenous Indian groups, extreme warfare broke out among the people who lived in what is now the New England area. The war lasted 14 months, from the year 1975 to 1976. It was named for King Philip, the son of Massasoit and chief of the Wampanoag tribe.

Throughout much of history the war has been described as an Indian uprising against the English colonies who wanted territorial expansion. James Drake explores a different avenue in his book "King Philip's War: Civil War in New England, 1675-1676", Drake makes a strong case in characterizing King Philip's war as a civil war. It should be noted that although the English settlers and the Indian natives had two very contrasting ways of life, they also offered each other essential tools for survival in the region.

Drake points out that one of the major factors that have been left out of historical texts is the alliance between Indian groups and the English during the war. The Indians that joined the English increased the number of forces for the English side and turned on other Indians. This evidence disproves the notion that the war was strictly Indians against the English. He also goes on to say that only the tension and hostilities were be...

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...l ideas were taken from the Indian way of life, as well as many of the Indians who took to adopting some of the political ideas of the English. The reliance on agriculture and fishing for both groups led to the first meeting and contact between them, sustenance became a factor that bound together members of both groups.

Although much of the land was tended to by the Indians, the unoccupied land was taken by the English and its profits were traded within each group. When intercultural trading started to occur, disagreements on price sparked conflict. The problem was exemplified once it went across to the English and the greater battle took place at this point. Although King Philip's War was tragic and costly in human lives, it also proved that two very different societies can coexist in a single region for an extended period of time before conflict can arise.