Final answer:
The initial relationship between Puritan settlers and the Pequots was initially cautious but turned hostile due to land disputes and the aggressive expansion of settlements. Misunderstandings of land use and an aggressive Puritan agenda of Christian conversion escalated into the Pequot War, leading to the massacre of the Pequot people and further deterioration of relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial relationship between Puritan settlers and the Pequots was cautious but not overtly hostile. Initially, local Algonquian peoples, including the Pequots, viewed European settlers as potential allies against rival Native American groups. However, as Puritan settlers began to inhabit Pequot lands and refused to accept the Native American view of land usage, which did not involve cultivation, tensions increased.
This tension escalated into the Pequot War (1636-1638) after the Puritans allied with other Native American tribes, such as the Narragansett and Mohegan, against the Pequots. The conflict turned violent when Puritans massacred the Pequots near the Mystic River. Furthermore, the long-term aim of the Puritans was to spread Christianity among Native Americans, which contributed to lingering tensions and led to a significant decline in relations.
Ultimately, the relationships took a negative turn due to cultural misunderstandings, aggressive expansion by the Puritans, and the dispossession and mass violence against the Pequots, leading to further military conflicts and the fracturing of initial agreements and diplomatic ties.