The Wars of the Lord

Abstract The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America’s First People tells the story of how the English Puritans came to dominate the native peoples of New England. The Puritans believed that by colonizing the new world they were advancing Christ’s kingdom, waging a spiritual war against the Devil, and liberating Native Americans from sin and darkness. They attempted to colonize the natives in a manner consistent with justice and peace. When Indians resisted colonization, as during the Pequot War (1636-1637), the Puritans interpreted such attacks as an assault on Christ’s kingdom and responded ruthlessly. For the most part, therefore, Indians pursued cooperation through trade and diplomacy. Missionaries such as John Eliot worked hard to convert Indians to Christianity, and thousands did become Christians. Though a series of crises repeatedly brought the region to the brink of war, Indians and Puritans managed to avoid a major conflict until the catastrophe of King Philip’s War (1675-1676). After suffering a series of major disasters, the English and their Indian allies ultimately crushed their Indian opposition. The war left the English in a dominant position over all Indians, including those who had converted to Christianity or supported the English during the war.