The Pequot War (book)

The Pequot War is a nonfiction book that reexamines historical sources on the Pequot War that resulted in new interpretations when this work was published in 1996. It was written by Alfred A. Cave and published by the University of Massachusetts Press. Also, this book is part of this university's series entitled: Native Americans of the Northeast.

Synopsis

Cave challenges previous historical conclusions that the Euro-American Puritans were motivated by the desire to advance self-interest through material gains in brutally executing the Pequot War. These were material gains such as "fear of Indian attack or greed for Pequot land, wampum, animal pelts, and slaves." Rather Cave argues that Puritans viewed the Pequots as untrustworthy savages and as a dangerous threat. These feelings led to a war with the Native Americans. However, it did result in the Puritans taking control of the land and its resources, as well as disenfranchising the Pequots as a political entity.

The author's analysis posits that Pequot aggression was not the primary factor leading to the conflict. He emphasizes the Pequots' weakened position due to trade competition, loss of allies like the Mohegans who sided with the English, and the arrival of disease, which had reached the interior of New England. Additionally, Cave argues that Puritan ideology, particularly the view of Indians as agents of evil, played a significant role in setting the stage for war, rather than solely land and trade interests.

Puritan religious beliefs influenced the Puritan's understanding of events, and may have led to misinterpretations that cast the Pequots as the aggressors. Cave attempts to achieve a balanced view. He compares Pequot actions and motives with Puritan belief systems. However, he does not excuse the colonists' responsibility for the violence committed under the guise of religion. The attack on Fort Mystic, a brutal event that resulted in the deaths of many Pequot women, children and the elderly, is described by Cave as "an act of terrorism".

Further reading

• Karr, Ronald Dale (1998). ""Why Should You be So Furious?": The Violence of the Pequot War". The Journal of American History. 85 (3): 876–909. doi:10.2307/2567215. JSTOR 2567215.
• Cave, Alfred A. (1992). "Who Killed John Stone? A Note on the Origins of the Pequot War". The William and Mary Quarterly. 49 (3): 509–521. doi:10.2307/2947109. JSTOR 2947109.
• Cave, Alfred A. (1989). "The Pequot Invasion of Southern New England: A Reassessment of the Evidence". The New England Quarterly. 62 (1): 27–44. doi:10.2307/366208. JSTOR 366208.
• Grandjean, Katherine A. (2011). "The Long Wake of the Pequot War". Early American Studies. 9 (2): 379–411. doi:10.1353/eam.2011.0019. JSTOR 23547653.

External links

• Official website