Discussion question 4

The Pilgrims established a tradition of more or less peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans that lasted over fifty years. Why did that tradition collapse in the 1670s and what might have been done to preserve it?

The tradition of peace that the Pilgrims established with the Native Americans was characteristic of a rather prosperous era, especially for the Pilgrims. However, I believe this prosperity for the Pilgrims was a big part of the reason the tradition of peace deteriorated. Due to the fact the Pilgrims were thriving in America, many Puritans, also wishing to worship as they pleased, journeyed to America. All the new visitors needed land, thus the new settlers bought land from the Native tribes. Then, when everyone's children grew up, they bought land as well, causing the Native Americans to lose much of their ancestral land in an incredibly short amount of time. Another reason peace had collapsed was because of English lack of respect. One example was when Major Josiah Winslow violently coerced the Pokanoket sachem Alexander to go to court over suspected conspiracy charges. English greed and lack of respect, I believe, led to the destruction of King Philip's War more than anything else. In my opinion, peace could have been maintained had the English been less greedy and more respectful of Native ways, or at the very least, had the English recognized their faults earlier, and taken steps to repair their deteriorating relationship with their Native American neighbors.