New World Rivals: The Role of the Narragansetts in the Breakdown of Anglo-Native Relations During King Philip’s War

Lauren Sagar, Providence College

Description

On June 28, 1675, King Philip’s War officially broke out between the Native Americans and English colonists of southern New England. The English immediately sought an alliance with the Narragansett tribe of Rhode Island due to their vast power in the area. However, English actions during this quest for alliance would ultimately turn the Narragansetts into enemies. The diplomatic and military encounters between the Narragansetts and English serve as a lens to understand dispossession, intercultural conflict, and colonialism during this period.