When Metacomet first waged war on Massachusetts in 1675, Maine colonists were forced to find a safe place to hide. Maine colonists didn’t have an army to fight for them. Many of them were farmers instead of fighters. The white settlers had no way to defend themselves and therefore many of them died in the war.

In 1676 King Philip's War ended in Massachusetts but not in Maine. The Abanaki of Maine and the white settlers were in conflict over food, land, and weapons. Maine settlers let their cows and pigs wander into the Native Americans' gardens. The Native Americans were angry because the white settlers let their animals eat their food source. The white settlers wanted their guns back because they wanted to prove their friendship with the Native Americans. But the Native Americans needed the guns for hunting which was a big part of their culture.

The white settlers in Maine started to capture the Native Americans and started selling them as slaves to Europeans. The Native Americans were angry, so on August 12, 1676 bands of over 200 Abanaki warriors killed 34 colonists in Southern Maine and captured even more white settlers. Whole families were murdered and settlements in Saco, Wells, and Casco were destroyed.

Almost ten years later the French & Indian wars began and went from 1689-1763. The English and many Maine settlers fought the Native Americans and the French for the land and resources of New England.

Mandi
3/18/03
4A

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