King Philip's War 1675–76
The colonists in Plymouth arrived in Massachusetts and quickly encountered Wampanoag Indians. The Wampanoag's grand sachem, Massasoit, signed a peace agreement with the colonists that lasted until his death in 1661. The agreement between Massasoit and the colonists gave Massasoit political strength among the other Indian tribes in the area. After Massasoit's death in 1661, his son Wamsutta ruled over the Wampanoags until his death in 1662. Massasoit's next eldest son, Metacom became sachem after the death of his brother. Metacom, being a Indian of political stature in his tribe went before the English colonists and requested he be appointed a title acknowledging his political status as leader of the Wampanoag. Metacom was given the English name Philip and appointed the title King of the Wampanoag. King Philip was able to maintain a tenuous peace with the colonists until 1671. The trade relationship between the Wampanoag and the colonists created a situation in which the Wampanoag became increasingly dependant on the colonists and their European goods. The Wampanoag's dependence on European goods created a system of debt that eventually led to the concession of an ever increasing amount of Indian lands to repay debt. The loss of Indian land and the anger 
created by the system of dependence that developed eventually led to conflict between the Wampanoag and the colonists. The colonists became suspicious of Metacom and fined him and forced the Wampanoag to surrender their weapons. In the years prior to the outbreak of war between the Wampanoag and the colonists, an Indian named John Sassamon, acted as translator, interpreter and political consultant to Metacom. John Sassamon had been educated by the English and was a Christian convert. It is rumored that Sassamon was an English informer who was passing information about Metacom and the Wampanoags political and military intentions to the colonists. In 1675 John Sassamon was found murdered and three Wampanoag were accused, tried and convicted o his murder. Metacom was outraged by the colonists reprisal and ordered a surprise attack on the border settlement of Swansea. The Wampanoag and the colonists of Massachusetts were no in an state of war. The Wampanoag were soon joined by the Nipmuck and the Narragansett
Indians. The colonists emerged victorious in 1676, but not before the native populations of local Indians were virtually decimated. This conflict was known as King Philip's War.
The colonists in Plymouth arrived in Massachusetts and quickly encountered Wampanoag Indians. The Wampanoag's grand sachem, Massasoit, signed a peace agreement with the colonists that lasted until his death in 1661. The agreement between Massasoit and the colonists gave Massasoit political strength among the other Indian tribes in the area. After Massasoit's death in 1661, his son Wamsutta ruled over the Wampanoags until his death in 1662. Massasoit's next eldest son, Metacom became sachem after the death of his brother. Metacom, being a Indian of political stature in his tribe went before the English colonists and requested he be appointed a title acknowledging his political status as leader of the Wampanoag. Metacom was given the English name Philip and appointed the title King of the Wampanoag. King Philip was able to maintain a tenuous peace with the colonists until 1671. The trade relationship between the Wampanoag and the colonists created a situation in which the Wampanoag became increasingly dependant on the colonists and their European goods. The Wampanoag's dependence on European goods created a system of debt that eventually led to the concession of an ever increasing amount of Indian lands to repay debt. The loss of Indian land and the anger 
created by the system of dependence that developed eventually led to conflict between the Wampanoag and the colonists. The colonists became suspicious of Metacom and fined him and forced the Wampanoag to surrender their weapons. In the years prior to the outbreak of war between the Wampanoag and the colonists, an Indian named John Sassamon, acted as translator, interpreter and political consultant to Metacom. John Sassamon had been educated by the English and was a Christian convert. It is rumored that Sassamon was an English informer who was passing information about Metacom and the Wampanoags political and military intentions to the colonists. In 1675 John Sassamon was found murdered and three Wampanoag were accused, tried and convicted o his murder. Metacom was outraged by the colonists reprisal and ordered a surprise attack on the border settlement of Swansea. The Wampanoag and the colonists of Massachusetts were no in an state of war. The Wampanoag were soon joined by the Nipmuck and the Narragansett
Indians. The colonists emerged victorious in 1676, but not before the native populations of local Indians were virtually decimated. This conflict was known as King Philip's War.References:
Steele, Ian K. Warpaths: Invasions of North America. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
