Final answer:
The Pequot War was a conflict resulting from Puritan expansionism, cultural misunderstandings about land use, and led to the decimation and enslavement of the Pequot people.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pequot War (1636-1638) was an example of the early conflicts between Native Americans and European settlers in New England. It reflected the intense power struggle over territory, cultural misunderstandings, and the often brutal attempts of English colonists to expand their settlement at the expense of indigenous populations. The Pequots, a dominant tribe in the Connecticut Valley, became increasingly alarmed by the growing number of English settlers encroaching on their land. The Puritan settlers refused to recognize Native American land claims, largely because the lands were not cultivated in a way the English recognized as a sign of ownership. Tensions escalated, leading to the murder of several English at Saybrook and Wethersfield and triggering widespread violence.
An expedition led by John Endicott was sent into Pequot territory, marking the beginning of the war. One significant event was the attack on the Pequot fort at Mystic, where approximately 400 Pequot were killed or captured, many of whom were non-combatants. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Hartford, leading to the seizure of Pequot lands and the enslavement of survivors by the Narragansett and Mohegan or in distant lands like Bermuda and the West Indies. This war set the stage for later conflicts, such as Metacom's War, and deeply impacted Native-English relationships, shifting them towards enmity and racial hatred.