Exploring American Histories: Printed Page 63
Interpret the Evidence
What types of complaints did the Wampanoags have against the English (Documents 2.6 and 2.8)? Which seem the most grievous to the Indians? What do these complaints reveal about how the colonists viewed the Wampanoags?
What does Edward Randolph’s description of the causes of the war (Document 2.8) reveal about how this war might be viewed by Englishmen who were not colonists?
What does Benjamin Church’s meeting with Awashonks (Document 2.7) suggest about the difficult choices faced by some Indians and some colonists as war approached?
In what ways did the English disagree among themselves over the causes of war? What do these differences tell us about the era and the war?
What does William Nahaton’s petition (Document 2.9) reveal about English leaders’ main goal when dealing with the Indians? Do you think the English differentiated between Christian and non-Christian Indians?
How does Mary Rowlandson employ religion to explain the events that happen to her during her captivity? What does the enormous popularity of her book indicate about the place of religion in New England in the 1680s?
Put It in Context
King Philip’s War was one of the bloodiest in American history. From these documents, what do you think accounts for its ferociousness?