On June 24, 1675, King Philip’s War, one of the earliest and most devastating conflicts between Native American inhabitants and European settlers, began. This war was led by Metacomet, known as King Philip, the chief of the Wampanoag people. The conflict erupted over tensions caused by the colonists’ expansive and often oppressive demands for land and resources. It spread throughout New England and resulted in thousands of deaths, substantial property destruction, and significant upheaval among both the Native American tribes and colonial settlements. King Philip’s War had lasting effects on the political and cultural landscape of New England, deeply influencing the relationships and power dynamics between Native American communities and European settlers.
