Pequot War

Pequot Indians

Pequot Indians watching Captain Mason's ships

Pequot War Summary and Definition
Pequot War Summary and Definition: The Pequot War was a short, vicious war in 1634-1638 between the Pequot tribe, who were members of a powerful tribe of Algonquian-speaking Indians of Connecticut, against an alliance of the Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut and Plymouth English colonies with their Indian allies, the Narragansett and Mohegan tribes.

The Pequots were defeated in a crushing defeat in which they were forced to sign the Treaty of Hartford declaring the Pequot nation to be dissolved.

The Indian Wars
Native Indian Tribes Index

Facts about the Pequot War
The Pequot Native Indians of Connecticut and Rhode Island were defeated by the colonists led by John Underhill and John Mason, and the Narragansett and Mohegan who were their allies. Many native Indians were killed and others sold into slavery. Interesting history and fast facts about the Pequot War:

Fast Facts about the Pequot War
Name of Conflict: Pequot War 
Location: Southeastern Connecticut 
Date Conflict started: 1634 
Date Conflict ended: 1638 
Result: The Pequots were defeated 
Combatants: Pequot tribe 
Leaders: Sassacus, a sachem 
Opponents: English colonists and their Native Indian allies 
Leaders: Captains John Underhill, John Endecott, Myles Standish, John Mason and Robert Seeley  

 

The History and Cause of the Pequot War
Interesting facts and information about the significance, specific events and famous leaders of the Pequot War. The combatants of the conflict were the Pequot Native Indians and the English colonies and their allies. The history, reason and cause of the war were as follows:

  • The lucrative fur trade attracted colonists to the area
  • The colonists encroached on the Pequot homelands
  • Inter-tribal warfare broke down alliances and weakened the Native Indians
  • The Dutch and the English colonists and traders made alliances with different tribes to strengthen their forces and power in Connecticut
  • In 1633 the Massachusetts Bay Colony began to manufacture wampum, the shell beads that Eastern Woodlands tribes used for currency. Wampum had previously been controlled by the Pequots
  • Unscrupulous Europeans demanded tributes from the Pequots to avoid bloodshed - a practise that could not be condoned by the once all-powerful Native Americans. Hostilities between the Europeans and the tribe escalated resulting in the Pequot War

The Significance of the Pequot War
The significance of the Pequot War in history was that it tipped the balance of military power to the English, instead of the Dutch, opening the way to New England’s settlement. The penalties of fighting in the conflict brought the wrath of the English and their allies on to the Pequot people. The Treaty of Hartford stated that survivors of the Great Swamp fight were to be divided as slaves among the Indian allies of the English. The Hartford Treaty also stated that no Pequot could inhabit former Pequot territory. And finally the name Pequot was to be erased and any Pequot slaves had to take name of tribes to which they are enslaved. So cruel and devastating was the outcome of this war that no Connecticut Native Americans challenged the colonies again for nearly forty years, when, in 1675, King Philip's War erupted.

 

Pequot War

History Timeline of the Pequot War
This short History Timeline of the Pequot War provides facts and information about the history, years, key dates, key events and key people who fought in this war.
 

History Timeline of the Pequot War

1633The Dutch establish trading posts in Connecticut. Their land claims lead to conflicts with the Pequot
 
 

1633The English make land claims and grow in power
 

1633The Massachusetts Bay Colony began to manufacture wampum
 

1634Inter-tribal warfare between the  Pequot and their enemies the Narragansett
 
 

1634Smallpox epidemic transmitted initially by the European new comers.
 

1634Death of Captain John Stone who was killed by the Western Niantic, allies of the Pequot, in retaliation for atrocities committed by the Dutch and Stone
 
 

1634Pequot negotiate a Peace Treaty in Boston
 

1636Captain John Oldham killed off Block Island
 

1636John Endicott leads a punitive force against the Pequot, attempts to get tribute payments from the Pequot and when these were not given he burns their village
 
 

1636/7Pequot Siege of Fort Saybrook and Connecticut River
 
 

1637Inter-tribal warfare re-emerges between the  Pequot and their enemies the Narragansett
 
 

1637Captain John Mason sent to punish the Pequot at their main village. He was joined by John Underhill. They failed to take the heavily defended village so sailed east and stopped at the village of Misistuck, present-day Mystic.
 
 

1637The Mystic Massacre of women, children and older men who were killed or burnt to death in their village. Only 7 Pequot survived out of an estimated 700 people.
 
 

1637The remainder of the Pequot seek refuge with other southern Algonquian people
 
 

1637June - Great Swamp Fight - Refugees cornered by the English. Survivors led by Sassacus seek help from the Mohawks in New York
 
 

1637July - The Mohawks kill Sassacus and his warriors and send the scalp of Sassacus to the English as a symbolic offering of Mohawk friendship
 
 

1638September - Treaty of Hartford - the Mohegan and Narragansett given Pequot land. The surviving Pequot were unable to find much refuge with any other tribe and most were sold into slavery
 
 
History Timeline of the Pequot War

 

Pequot War

  • Significance, cause, summary, dates and history of the Pequot War for kids
  • The Pequot War for kids
  • History of the Pequot War
  • Interesting Facts and information on the Pequot War for kids and schools
  • Cause and Effects of the Pequot War
  • Significance, events, summary, dates and history of the Pequot War for kids

Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Pequot War. Discover the key dates, key people and events of the Pequot War together with the causes and effects of the war, conflict and battle. Pictures have been include wherever possible which show the clothing, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes and their leaders who fought in the Pequot War. The illustrated text provides a really useful educational resource for kids and children of all ages. We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic of this section - The Pequot War. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with the information and the many facts featured on this subject of the Pequot War.

Teaching resource - Teachers - Kids - Pequot War - Indian Wars - Cause of War - Battlefield - Summary - History of War - Indian - Native American - Battle - Conflict - Massacre - Fighting - US Cavalry - Tribes - History - Timeline of War - History - Facts - Information - Info - Famous - Cause of War - Battlefield - Summary - History of War - Native - American - Indian - Chief - Chiefs - Significance of War - Leaders - Leader - Events - Dates - Conflict - Summary - Definition - Battle - War - Death - Short - Kids - Children - Studies - US - United States - America - Significance of War - Results - Causes - Effects - Year - Significance of War - Dates - Summary - Impact - Reasons - Events - Pequot War - Written By Linda Alchin

ⓒ 2017 Siteseen LimitedFirst Published Cookies PolicyAuthor
Updated 2018-01-16Publisher Siteseen Limited Privacy Statement