Squanto Video

In this video, an author is interviewed on his book about Squanto, and how the pilgrims wouldn't have survived without his help. He taught them agricultural techniques, where to hunt, where to gather fruits and vegetables, and many other valuable resources.

Bio #4: Metacom

Metacom was best known for his role as a war leader of the Wampanoag Indians in King Philip’s War. Massasoit was Metacom’s father, and became chief in 1662 when Wamsutta (his brother) died. Metacom despised the Christian religion, and refused to convert, thinking that it would make him a negligent leader. Metacom lived in peace with the colonists, bought his clothes in Boston, and even adopted an English name, Philip. However, the colonists were expanding westward, pushing unfriendly tribes east, and invading his territory. In 1671, leaders of Plymouth colony forced a compromise in which the tribe gave up their ammunition and agreed to the English terms. Conflict broke out again in 1675, resulting in King Philip’s War. When the war soon turned against him, he hid in Assowamset Swamp with his family and other followers. The Swamp was located in Southern Rhode Island. Eventually, a group of hunters found them, and Metacom was shot by John Alderman on August 12, 1676. Metacom died from this fatal injury, and his wife and kids were shipped off to Bermuda and sold as slaves. On a more gruesome note, Metacom’s head was mounted on a stick near the entrance of the Plymouth Fort, where it stayed for more than 20 years. Metacom was not a well liked person by the Plymouth colony, mainly due to his involvement in King Philip’s War.

Works Cited: "Metacomet -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .

Bio # 3: Squanto (Tisquantum)

Squanto is best known for helping the Pilgrims after their first winter in America. Historians believe that without Squanto’s assistance, the first colony would have surely failed. Squanto is also known as Tisquantum. Squanto first encountered English explorers in 1605, and was captured by George Weymouth’s company. Weymouth thought that it was necessary to return to Europe with natives as proof of the New World’s existence. Squanto’s tribe (the Pauxets) were in captivity, and Squanto was taught English and served as a translator. On the way back to his tribe, Squanto was captured again, this time by an Englishman by the name of Thomas Hunt. Hunt captured other natives, as well as fish and corn, and planned on traveling to Spain and selling the natives as slaves. Local friars heard about what Hunt was doing, and helped the natives escape. The friars turned the natives over to the Christian religion, and Squanto persuaded them to help him get back home. Squanto eventually arrived home, and his tribe settled near the pilgrims. He is most well known for helping them after the winter by showing them farming techniques and how to gather food. Luckily for the pilgrims, Squanto was a previous English translator, and was the only native in the tribe that could converse with the settlers of the New World. Squanto was a caring native American who was critical to the survival of the first settlers at Plymouth.

Works Cited: "Squanto -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .

Bio #2: Chief Pontiac

Chief Pontiac or Obwandiyag was born in 1720, and died April 20, 1769. He was the leader of the Ottawa tribe, and is most well known for his part in Pontiac’s Rebellion, which lasted from 1763 to 1766. Historians have been in a disagreement of his role in the rebellion, and whether or not it should be named after him. Some 19th century recordings show him as a major part of the rebellion who led the revolt, while other accounts portray him as a less important character that had little influence in the rebellion. There is very limited information regarding to Chief Pontiac prior to the war of 1763. Although Pontiac’s father came from the Ottawa tribe and his mother came from the Obijiwa tribe, Pontiac was always considered to be an Ottawa. Pontiac allied himself with New France, and supported them throughout the French and Indian War, and although no evidence exists, historians believe that Pontiac had a large role in the French and Indian victory over the Braddock expedition. After the French and Indian War, Indian allies of the defeated Americans were unsatisfied by the provisions the Americans were distributing, and the Americans (due to lack of trust) severely limited the distribution of gun powder and ammunition to the Native Americans. As a response to this, Pontiac tried to capture Fort Detroit, but failed. Pontiac met with British superintendent of Indian affairs in 1766 and ended all conflict. Pontiac was a truly gifted leader, and fought for his tribe with dignity and honor.

Works Cited: "Chief Pontiac -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .

Bio #1: Massasoit

Born in a Polanoket village called Montaup, (today, Warren and Bristol, RI), Massasoit negotiated a treaty with the Englishmen. The treaty guaranteed the English security and safety, in exchange for their union against the Naragansett. Some of his other names included Woosamequine, Oosamenquen, Osamekin, Owsamequine, and Ussamequen. English sources tell that Massasoit saved the Plymouth colony from inevitable starvation and failure. An alliance Massasoit made with the colonial leaders John Carver, Edward Winslow, and William Bradford ensured that the Wampanoag tribe remained neutral throughout the Pequot War of 1636. Massasoit had five children, going by the names of: Moanam, Pometecomet, Metacomet, Sonkanuchoo; and two daughters, Amie, and another whose name wasn’t recorded. Tension rose between the colonists and Massasoit when the colonists refused to hand over Squanto, who was believed to be a traitor. Edward Winslow visited Massasoit when he fell ill in March of 1763, and resolved the issue. The date of Massasoit’s death is unknown, but when he died, the peace treaty between the Wampanoag tribe and the colonists grew tenuous. Massasoit was an honest man, who never betrayed a fellow man, and never went back on his word. When he made a promise, he kept it, regardless of the consequences. The peace alliance between them and the colonsists he had worked so hard to achieve collapsed soon after his death. His son and successor, Wamsutta, created an alliance with the Conneticut colony as a response to the increasing invasions into Wampanoag territory, by the allied colonists. Massasoit was a honest, trustworthy man who dedicated his life to keeping the peace, and helping the first colonists at Plymouth survive.

Works Cited: "Massasoit -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .

Infotrac Citations

Younger, Judith T. "Whose America?." Constitutional Commentary 22.1 (Spring 2005): 241(10). General OneFile. Gale. MANCHESTER ESSEX SR HIGH SCHOOL. 2 Dec. 2009
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Glotfelty, Cheryll. "Embedded in the 'Battle of the Lakes': a report from the textual frontlines of the 1833 Humboldt Sink massacre." ATQ [The American Transcendental Quarterly] 18.4 (2004): 277+. General OneFile. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. .

Citations for eBook

"Native American Cultures." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 2: Early Cultures Across the Globe. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 351-355. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. MANCHESTER ESSEX SR HIGH SCHOOL. 1 Dec. 2009 .

"North American Indians." Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Lindsay Jones. Vol. 10. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 6673. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. MANCHESTER ESSEX SR HIGH SCHOOL. 1 Dec. 2009 .

"Open Range." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 754-755. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. MANCHESTER ESSEX SR HIGH SCHOOL. 1 Dec. 2009 .

Works Cited

Citations of Books in the Manchester Essex Regional Highschool Library
Freedman, Russell. Indian chiefs. New York: Holiday House, 1987. Print.

Jamake., Highwater,. Anpao an American Indian odyssey. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1977. Print.

Katz, William Loren. Civil War to the last frontier, 1850-1880s. Austin, Tex:
Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993. Print.

Mann, Charles C. 1491 New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. New York: Vintage, 2006. Print.

Stein, R. Conrad. Aztec empire. Tarrytown, N.Y: Benchmark Books, 1996. Print.

White, Jon Ewbank Manchip. Everyday life of the North American Indian. Mineola, N.Y: Dover Publications, 2003. Print.

Four Volume Set UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. Null: U•X•L, 1999. Print.

Collier, Christopher, and James Lincoln Collier. Indians, Cowboys and Farmers 1865-1910 (The Drama of American History). New York: Benchmark Books (NY), 2000. Print.

Kallen, Stuart A. Mayans. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 2001. Print.

Lewis, Spence,. Myths of the North American Indians. New York: Gramercy Books, Distributed by Random House
Value Pub., 1994. Print.

Native American rights. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1998. Print.

Tannenbaum, Beulah. Science of the early American Indians. New York: F. Watts, 1988. Print.


Whitson, Kathy J. Native American literatures an encyclopedia of works, characters, authors, and themes. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 1999. Print.

Why am I doing this topic?

Connor Booth

I find the history of Native Americans, and their interaction with foreigners fascinating. Throughout the development of America, the Natives had land seized from them, and experienced unrelenting violence from the colonists. When the colonists defied the Proclamation of 1763, they continued their westward expansion, and promoted great violence with the natives. Naturally, the natives fought for their land, which resulted in a waging conflict. Another incident in which the natives were cheated was the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Treaty of Paris was signed by the British, which recognized America as free from British rule. The British attempted to make compromises with the treaty, to protect the loyalists. However, this treaty said nothing about the protection of the Native Americans, who had been helping the British throughout most of the war. This led to increased expansion westward, and increased violence. Native Americans weren’t particularly violent people, but they got their stereotype from colonists, who would move in on native lands and expect them to comply. The Native Americans were cheated and deceived on numerous occasions throughout the Revolutionary War. I understand that simply researching “Native Americans” is a very broad subject, so I have decided to start my paper as a broad overview, and then narrow my topic down to one or two particular tribes. A few tribes I would include are the Iroquois, Algonquins, and others. I may also describe the alliance between the Indians and the French during the French and Indian War.