American History

Around 1606, New English made efforts to establish colonies along the American coast and the northern territory in Florida which was held by the Spanish. Over 100 English settlers in three ships sailing in the Chesapeake Bay up the James River attempted to settle on the island of Jamestown. However, attacks from the local Indians, food depravation and disease reduced their numbers to less than forty. By 1633, the English colonist experience massive attacks, and in 1644, 500 colonist were killed.

In the densely populated Eastern Woodland cultures, wars were seen as a means of coping with depopulation and grief. The conflicts which were also referred as mourning wars would see the captured settlers ritually tortured. There was an economic motive in the conflict as Indians hunted for the European goods. In western plains, different tribal groups fought beaver wars to gain access to firearms and iron good. By the end of the century, native wars became entangled with the Europeans war in a bid to control trade and the continent.

When Indians rebelled against the settlers, the war shifted among the Indian groups. During the King Phillips War, Indian groups helped the New England colonies to fight the Wampanoag uprising. Cherokees sought for English goods during the Yamasee War and this helped suppress the local Indians who were opposed to European military encroachment.

Wars in the southwest and in the plains were distinct from those in the eastern Woodland since they usually broke out between nomadic and horticulturalists. The development of horse culture favored the nomads and the pressures reached Arizona and western New Mexico. Although nomads still depended on the agricultural people, raids using horses was often used a means of procuring farm products as the Europeans settled.