First of Four Wars Impacting Western New England
King William’s War was the first of four wars in which the French colonials (in Canada and elsewhere) and the British colonials (in New England and elsewhere) had several elements that would repeat in later years with substantial impact on western Massachusetts:
-The colonies were incidental to a European conflict having to do with royal succession and balance of power (but by the 1750’s the colonies would be a much more important part of the conflict)
-Native Americans (by now largely dependent on trade for European goods) would be sought as allies
-Each conflict served to escalate resentments on both sides and provide tinder for future conflagration.
