Final answer:
The statement that King Philip's war started following the assassination of a praying Indian and Harvard graduate by a Wampanoag is true and contributed to the war's initiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that King Philip's war broke out when a praying Indian and graduate of Harvard was assassinated by a Wampanoag is true. King Philip's War, which occurred from 1675 to 1676, was one of the most devastating conflicts between American Indians and English settlers in the history of New England.
It began after escalating tensions over land and retaliation for the murder of John Sassamon, a Harvard-educated Native American from the praying town of Natick. Sassamon had been serving as an intermediator between the colonists and the Wampanoag tribe but was found dead under suspicious circumstances, and three Wampanoags were executed for his murder. This act sparked a violent conflict that would result in a significant loss of life and property on both sides. Thus, the assassination of a praying Indian who was a Harvard graduate did contribute to the initiation of the war.