Conflicts Simmer and Boil• Objective: I can explain the social, economic,

and political tensions that led to violent conflicts in the colonies.

• Preview: Why do you think colonists always won in conflicts with American Natives?

• Process: None• On Your Own: Read and answer questions

about the 4 conflicts facing the colonies.

Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

Chief Powhatan dominated the few dozen small tribes in the James River area—Relations became tense when starving colonists took to raiding native food supplies.

Fragile peace following the First Anglo-Powhatan War in 1614 when Pocahontas married John Rolfe, the first known interracial union in Virginia.

Second Anglo-Powhatan War, 1644—Natives defeated, ending any hopes of assimilation or peaceful coexistence—Chesapeake Indians banished from ancestral lands.

Peace Treaty formally separated the native people from white areas of settlement, creating the foundations of the reservation system.

Chief PowhatanChief Powhatan

Powhatan Confederacy Powhatan dominated a

few dozen small tribes in the James River area when the English arrived.

The English called allIndians in the areaPowhatans.

Powhatan probably sawthe English as allies in his struggles to control other Indian tribes in the region.

Powhatan ConfederacyPowhatan Confederacy

PowhatanIndian Village

PowhatanIndian Village

Indian FoodsIndian Foods

Native American Chief in charge of the area where Jamestown is set up.

- During the starting times- English raid Indians for food.

- John Smith befriends his Daughter, Pocahontas to try and make peace.

Relations between Powhatan Indians & settlers grows worse.

General mistrust because of different cultures & languages.

English raided Indian food supplies during the starving times.

English force Native Americans off land so they can grow tobacco.

Clash in the ChesapeakeClash in the Chesapeake

1614-1622 peace between Powhatans and the English.

1614 peace sealed by the marriage of Pocahontas to Englishman John Rolfe.

1622-1644 periodic attacks between Indians and settlers.

1622 Indians attacked the English, killing 347 [including John Rolfe].

Virginia Co. called for a “perpetual war” against the Native Americans.

Raids reduced native population and drove them further westward.

Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

Culture Clash in the Chesapeake

Indian Relations – War and AssimilationBackground – 2 ideas for Warfare• Native Americans & Europeans came from 2

different cultures concerning warfare1. Europeans = war is “Total” (i.e. civilian, military, etc…) & fought for dominance2. Natives = war is ritualistic and fought for sport and honor, not destruction

*Cultural Clash causes misunderstanding, change of Indian culture & loss of life *

• Indian vs. Settler Wars#1: Powathan Wars – Chesapeake & VA

a. 1st Powathan War (1614) – small skirmishes and fighting over land in Chesapeake area-- Ends w/ Pocahontas/Rolfe marriageb. 2nd Powathan War (1644) – Natives attempt to remove colonists from VA-- Natives lose in bloody battles => 1646 peace treaty bans Natives form VA and creates 1st ‘reservation’ in West

Different depictions of Pocahontas

Culture Clash in New England

Massasoit’s son Metacom, called King Philip, forged a pan-Indian alliance in 1675 against the rapidly spreading settlements—In 1676, after a series of coordinated attacks, Metacom was captured, beheaded, drawn and quartered.

Initial contact and peaceful coexistence helped by Squanto and the Wampanoag chieftain Massasoit who signed a treaty with Plymouth and helped them celebrate first Thanksgiving.

As more English moved inland into the Connecticut River Valley, hostilities exploded in 1637—The Pequot were a strong nation not as ravaged by disease—In a brutal war, the English virtually annihilated the Pequots.

King Philip’s War slowed westward expansion for several decades, but inflicted lasting defeat on New England native peoples—They never

again seriously threatened New England colonists

The Pequot War, 1637

Taking Sides: Were the English Colonists guilty of genocide?

As more English moved inland into the Connecticut River Valley, hostilities exploded in 1637—The Pequot were a strong nation not as ravaged by disease—In the brutal Pequot War, the English virtually annihilated the Pequot.

Indian Wars (Cont.)#2: Pequot Wars – Massachusetts/Conn (1637-39)

a. When “Pilgrims” 1st arrive in 1621 Natives welcome them and aid survival

-- 80% of Natives had already died due to smallpox given to them by fishermenb. By 1637 Pequots refuse to continue to move off their land for Englishc. English create a pretense for full scale war – killing of trader John Stoned. War ends w/ burning of Mystic village and annihilation of Pequots

#3: King Phillips War – Mass./Conn. (1675-76)a. After decades of peace Indian chief Metacom (Phillip) unites Tribes against Englishb. 600 colonists, 3,000 Natives dead – Natives never challenge colonists again-- Phillip beheaded &family sold to slavery

#4: Pope’s Rebellion – New Mexico (1676)a. Spanish missionaries ban Native religious symbol (Kachina Dolls)b. Native Leader Pope unites tribes against Spanish => drives missionaries back to Mexico for more than a decade

King Phillip (Metacom)

King Phillip’s War (1675-1676)

Metacom-Chief of the Wampanoag

• Violent conflict between Native Americans and colonists.

• Reaction to Natives wanting their land back

• Many colonists died.• Brutal tactics by colonists

caused more Natives to die.• Colonial victory allowed for

colonists to expand settlement.

**Kept his head at Plymouth for 20 years (trophy?)

Led poor whites and slaves against the gov.

Wanted harsher punishments on Native American, so more land could be colonized.Berkley refused to retaliate for Indian attacks on frontier settlements.

House of Burgesses passed laws to regulate slavery so poor whites would not side with slaves.

Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion: 1676

Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion: 1676

Nathaniel Bacon

Governor

William Berkeley

It exposed resentments between inland frontiersmen and landless former servants against gentry on coastal plantations.

Socio-economic class differences/clashes between rural and urban communities would continue throughout American history.

Upper class planters searched for laborers less likely to rebel BLACK SLAVES!!

Results of Bacon’s Rebellion

Results of Bacon’s Rebellion

Why did the Colonists Always “Win”?#1: Superior Weapons (i.e. rifles, gunpowder, etc…)#2: Stable agricultural output (i.e. Native crops)#3: Strong manufactured goods (i.e. imports)#4: Immunity to European Diseases (i.e. smallpox)#5: Detailed political organizations & ability to divide Native tribes