COLONIAL WARS AND CONFLICTS – COLONISTS VS. NATIVES 1
Colonial Wars and Conflicts - Colonists v. Natives
Crystal Franzese
Chamberlain University
HIST 405 American History
Dr. Scott
09/03/24
, COLONIAL WARS AND CONFLICTS – COLONISTS VS. NATIVES 2
Introduction
The Powhatan Wars (1622 and 1644).
English settlers were forced to relocate due to the scarcity of food due to harsh
climate. On their journey they blindly found themselves settling at the center of the Powhatan
Empire, a powerful Algonquian confederacy that consisted of thirty native groups with a total
population of over 2000 people (Corbett,2023). The native groups were reluctant to give up their
land and tension ran high between the colonists and natives, eventually leading to many years of
war. The outbreak of The Anglo-Powhatan Wars, and King Philip’s War was a gruesome
bloodshed war that expressed the native’s resistance with accepting the intrusion of English
settlers.
English settlers refused to follow the natives cultural practices by giving gifts in
return insulted the Powhatan native group which led to The First Anglo-Powhatan War that’s
lasted from the year 1609 to 1614. The Second Anglo-Powhatan War in the 1620’s was a
surprise attack by the Opechancanough’s group due to the expansion of the English settlement
nearly one hundred miles into the interior, and because of the continued insults and friction
caused by English activities (Corbett,2023). The Powhatan’s attacked and killed a numerous
amount of the English settlers. The English responded by destroying every Powhatan village in
the vicinity of Jamestown. This retaliation was with brutal tactics during peace negotiations. The
Third Anglo-Powhatan War from year 1644–1646 resulted in the Powhatan’s killing around five
hundred English colonists. Although this was considered their ultimate defeat, it forced the
Powhatan’s to acknowledge King Charles I as their sovereign (2023). Then there was King
Philip’s War from the year 1675 to 1676. Native Americans did not want to give up and
Colonial Wars and Conflicts - Colonists v. Natives
Crystal Franzese
Chamberlain University
HIST 405 American History
Dr. Scott
09/03/24
, COLONIAL WARS AND CONFLICTS – COLONISTS VS. NATIVES 2
Introduction
The Powhatan Wars (1622 and 1644).
English settlers were forced to relocate due to the scarcity of food due to harsh
climate. On their journey they blindly found themselves settling at the center of the Powhatan
Empire, a powerful Algonquian confederacy that consisted of thirty native groups with a total
population of over 2000 people (Corbett,2023). The native groups were reluctant to give up their
land and tension ran high between the colonists and natives, eventually leading to many years of
war. The outbreak of The Anglo-Powhatan Wars, and King Philip’s War was a gruesome
bloodshed war that expressed the native’s resistance with accepting the intrusion of English
settlers.
English settlers refused to follow the natives cultural practices by giving gifts in
return insulted the Powhatan native group which led to The First Anglo-Powhatan War that’s
lasted from the year 1609 to 1614. The Second Anglo-Powhatan War in the 1620’s was a
surprise attack by the Opechancanough’s group due to the expansion of the English settlement
nearly one hundred miles into the interior, and because of the continued insults and friction
caused by English activities (Corbett,2023). The Powhatan’s attacked and killed a numerous
amount of the English settlers. The English responded by destroying every Powhatan village in
the vicinity of Jamestown. This retaliation was with brutal tactics during peace negotiations. The
Third Anglo-Powhatan War from year 1644–1646 resulted in the Powhatan’s killing around five
hundred English colonists. Although this was considered their ultimate defeat, it forced the
Powhatan’s to acknowledge King Charles I as their sovereign (2023). Then there was King
Philip’s War from the year 1675 to 1676. Native Americans did not want to give up and