In King Philip’s War Native Americans tried to stop the settlers of New England from taking their land. They fought well but lost the war. After it ended, the English settlers felt free to take even more land.
Metacom, called King Philip by the English, was grand sachem (chief) of the Wampanoag people. He and the English did not trust each other. In 1671 the English demanded that the Wampanoag surrender their guns. Metacom then became convinced his people could no longer live side by side with the English. He persuaded the Nipmuc and other Native Americans to help him fight the settlers.
In 1675 three Wampanoag men killed a Native American for helping settlers. Settlers then killed the three men. These events set off the war. It spread over much of New England. Settlers and Native Americans destroyed each other’s villages.
In the spring of 1676 many Native Americans ran short of food. The winter had been harsh and the fighting had kept them from attending to their crops. Nevertheless, Metacom kept on fighting. He was killed in August 1676. Some fighting continued after that. However, it was clear that the settlers had won.
King Philip’s War was the biggest war in New England during the 1600s. Native Americans attacked more than half of New England’s 90 settlements. In addition, about 3,000 Native Americans and 600 English settlers died.
