May 26, 1637
The Massacre at Mystic
Key Terms:
Readings:
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Introduction:When English settlers arrived on the North American continent to start their lives anew, many of them gave little thought to the native peoples who had long inhabited these lands. The Puritan colonists who arrived in the Connecticut River Valley in the early 17th century quickly learned the benefits and necessities of trade and co-existence with the Pequot and other native groups. An initial period of accommodation and cultural mixing, however, turned bitter as the groups clashed over conflicting views of property, nature, division of labor, and the principles of warfare. Massacre at Mystic traces relations between these groups through the lens of a single day. On May 26, 1637 the English retaliated against the murder of one of their own by viciously attacking a Pequot encampment. As this documentary explores this massacre, it captures the fateful consequences of these divergent worldviews and the tragic legacy left in its wake.
Massacre at Mystic is a dramatic retelling of the development of Puritan and Pequot relationships. Historians and Pequot descendents offer thoughtful commentary based on primary research and up-to-date historical interpretation. While there may have been a period of time in which Europeans and Native Americans could have built a cooperative society together, Massacre at Mystic uses this smaller story as a gripping example of why violence and force prevailed rather than co-existence. Rather than a simple tale of defeat, this program follows the present day Pequot as they have reconstructed a community based on new business enterprises and cultural endeavors. This program is an excellent historical lesson in understanding the development of the early colonies, the devastation of Native American peoples, and the patterns set during these formative years of contact. |
The Assignment
Module Directions:
Start by watching the short documentary on the Massacre at Mystic. Follow this by reading the assigned pages in the book. It is important for you to understand that the documentary and the book were created autonomous of one-another meaning that both of them use different sources and provide varying perspectives. Follow your consumption of the content by developing your understanding of the key terms outlined above. You will then answer each of the following guiding questions. It is recommended that you understand the questions before you start your reading.
Guiding Questions:
Primary Source Exploration:
In 1630, Puritan John Winthrop led a fleet of eleven ships to the New World to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In a famous sermon entitled “A Model of Christian Charity,” Winthrop described what he saw as the Puritan compact with God. The excerpt below captures many of the fundamental Puritan beliefs shared by the colonists at Mystic. Read this excerpt and briefly respond to the questions that follow.
“We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body…For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.”
Start by watching the short documentary on the Massacre at Mystic. Follow this by reading the assigned pages in the book. It is important for you to understand that the documentary and the book were created autonomous of one-another meaning that both of them use different sources and provide varying perspectives. Follow your consumption of the content by developing your understanding of the key terms outlined above. You will then answer each of the following guiding questions. It is recommended that you understand the questions before you start your reading.
Guiding Questions:
- Before the arrival of the British, what was the status of the Pequot in the Connecticut River Valley? How would you describe their relationships with other Native American tribes?
- Why did the Puritans travel to the New World? What were their intentions upon arrival?
- Compare and contrast Puritan and Pequot ideas about the following: land and property, division of labor and gender, and warfare. Are there more similarities or differences between the two? Give examples to back up your discussion.
- It has been suggested that the Dutch colonists favored trade, while the British prioritized land. How did the difference in focus shape their interactions with Native Americans, and their goals in the New World?
- Why were British settlers unhappy with the way Pequot organized their economy and relationship to the land? Do you think there was any validity to their concerns? Who do you think, if anyone, ultimately had the right to decide who should control the land?
- Why do you think the Narragansett and Mohegan tribes fought with the Puritans against the Pequot? Were you surprised by their actions? Discuss.
- One commentator, Tall Oak, ponders how the early colonies would have been different if the Puritans had come in peace. How would you answer this question? Do you think a different outcome in relations between the Pequot and the Puritans was possible?
- How did the Pequot manage to resurrect their community hundreds of years after the massacre? How do you think it would feel to go from devastation to prosperity?
- Describe the details of the 1638 Treaty of Hartford, which ended the war. Why was the treaty considered to be cultural genocide for the Pequot?
- What sources do you think historians used in order to recount the story of the massacre at Mystic? What sources might you use if you were trying to create a documentary about the early colonies? Do you think this documentary offers a balanced and informed view of the massacre? Discuss.
- To what extent did the Massacre at Mystic serve as a turning point in American history? To properly analyze a turning point, take into consideration what changed and what stayed the same during the period immediately before the event to the period immediately after.
Primary Source Exploration:
In 1630, Puritan John Winthrop led a fleet of eleven ships to the New World to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In a famous sermon entitled “A Model of Christian Charity,” Winthrop described what he saw as the Puritan compact with God. The excerpt below captures many of the fundamental Puritan beliefs shared by the colonists at Mystic. Read this excerpt and briefly respond to the questions that follow.
“We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body…For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.”
- How would you describe the Puritan community envisioned by John Winthrop? Do you think this kind of community is possible?
- What do you think Winthrop means by the term “city on a hill”? Who do you think he expected would have their eyes upon the Puritans?
- Do you think Winthrop considered Native American groups when he delivered this sermon? Do you think the Puritans upheld Winthrop’s vision in their dealings with Native Americans? Discuss.
Are You the Expert?
If this is one of the five events you have chosen to become an expert on, you will continue your experience with this module by completing the following.
Rhetorical Analysis of a Paired Reading:
Extended Historical Analysis:
The Pequot War officially ended with the Treaty of Hartford. Online or at the library, research the Treaty of Hartford and discover its provisions. Write a short synopsis of the treaty, or describe its contents using bullet points. Then, write a letter either from the perspective of a Puritan or a Pequot, describing your reactions to the treaty. Include references to the actual terms of the treaty in your letter. Your letter should be one page in length and mention at least three provisions of the treaty. You must be true to the role or perspective you have chosen, that of a Puritan or a Pequot.
Rhetorical Analysis of a Paired Reading:
Extended Historical Analysis:
The Pequot War officially ended with the Treaty of Hartford. Online or at the library, research the Treaty of Hartford and discover its provisions. Write a short synopsis of the treaty, or describe its contents using bullet points. Then, write a letter either from the perspective of a Puritan or a Pequot, describing your reactions to the treaty. Include references to the actual terms of the treaty in your letter. Your letter should be one page in length and mention at least three provisions of the treaty. You must be true to the role or perspective you have chosen, that of a Puritan or a Pequot.