King Phillip’s War

While kings in Europe were fighting, the colonies in North America were growing stronger and stronger. Because they knew many farming and hunting tricks from the natives, their population began to grow and, because it was growing, they needed more land. So, they forced the Wampanoag tribe to give them land again and again, until the Indian king saw his nation dwindling. When Metacom, the tribe leader of the Wampanoag saw that English settlers went to their streams and hunted in their deer spots, they thought they should go to war with the English! However, they needed allies and while they were looking for allies, a Native American who went to an English school went to the governor of Plymouth and warned him about the invasion plans. But during that time, the English settlers didn’t believe Indians, even if they were telling the truth. The governor then told the Indian to go home, but a few days later, the Indian died by 3 of Metacom’s warriors. The English settlers were alarmed by this; And they dragged the warriors to be executed for murder. Metacom, outraged, raided one of the English settlements. This was the beginning of war! The English were more advanced, but the Indians were more stealthy and good at forest battles. after 8 months of battle, both forces met at the battle of The Great Swamp Fight. That very day would decide the field of battle. The Great Swamp Fight ended in an English victory! With this, he lost most of his forces and his allies were dead, so he asked the Mohawks for more men, but they refused. With no allies and his army shrinking, they fought again where Metacom’s camp is, but they were defeated again. Metacom escaped, but his family and his army were killed or sold as slaves. However, his escape was not very successful as the English captured him 10 days later. They then shot him, cut off his head, and put in on a pole where they put it in their settlement for years! Because he was called King Phillip by the English, the war was named King Phillip’s war. Once the war was over, the colonies could now spread further since there were no more tribes in the area.