Sometimes described as "America's deadliest war;" King Philip's War proved a critical turning point in the history of New England; leaving English colonists decisively in command of the region at the expense of native peoples. Although traditionally understood as an inevitable clash of cultures or as a classic example of conflict on the frontier between Indians and whites; in the view of James D. Drake it was neither. Instead; he argues; King Philip's War was a civil war; whose divisions cut across ethnic lines and tore apart a society composed of English colonizers and Native Americans alike. According to Drake; the interdependence that developed between English and Indian in the years leading up to the war helps explain its notorious brutality. Believing they were dealing with an internal rebellion and therefore with an act of treason; the colonists and their native allies often meted out harsh punishments. The end result was nothing less than the decimation of New England's indigenous peoples and the consequent social; political; and cultural reorganization of the region. In short; by waging war among themselves; the English and Indians of New England destroyed the world they had constructed together. In its place a new society emerged; one in which native peoples were marginalized and the culture of the New England Way receded into the past.
#3757312 in Books US Naval Institute Press 2002-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .90 x 6.20 x 9.24l; 1.05 #File Name: 1557500096216 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Informative and Thought ProvokingBy CustomerThe author focuses on the two major events that have influenced US foreign policy. The first; the Munich agreement appeasing Hitler set the stage for World War II; caused the US to turn away from its former isolationism and to prepare itself to act against aggression. The second; the Vietnam war; had the opposite effect: US interventions would need to be quickly executed; with few casualties and concrete goals.While I do not always agree with the author's conclusions; I believe he charts the varying opinions of leaders and the attentive US public very well. A "must" read for anyone interested in US foreign policy;11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Very important read for leaders and citizens alikeBy Andrew S. RogersI don't know if Jeffrey Record had the then-impending; now underway; war against Iraq in mind when he wrote this important book; but I don't think he could have made this any more timely if he had. From politicians to talk radio; the metaphors of "appeasement" and "avoiding another Vietnam" loom large in the debate over Iraq. I would suggest that this title be made required reading for anyone who dares send those metaphors into battle.Record argues that Munich and Vietnam have been the dominant historical memes in White Houses deciding whether or not to employ American power around the world. For better or worse; what various Presidents and their advisors have taken to be "the lessons of Munich" and/or "the lessons of Vietnam" have been important; sometimes deciding; factors. Not surprisingly; Record finds that those "lessons" have often been misinterpreted and mis-applied by our political leaders; many times with serious consequences.While this book is especially useful for anyone in; or who fancies themselves someday being in; a position of political influence; Record's work is also valuable reading for the rest of us. That's because he also analyzes how those same historical memes have been used by Presidents and their spokesmen to justify particular courses of action to the American people. It's important that we be able to recognize when that's being done; and equipped to decide whether the metaphor is valid. This title is a very useful tool in that process.Duff Cooper; a British politician and contemporary of Winston Churchill; once wrote that one of the problems with democracy is that too few democratic leaders read history. The corollary of that; Record might argue; is that even the ones who have read history are apt to misinterpret it; or color their interpretations to justify actions they have already decided are desirable. An attractive metaphor can exert powerful force on decision-makers. Few things are more seductive ... or potentially more dangerous. Jeffrey Record is to be commended for helping the reader see though the seductiveness and apply the cold light of logical thought.
