Date

Name

Description

1540-1541

Tiguex War

Fought in the winter of 1540-41 by the army of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado against the 12 pueblos of Tiwa Indians along both sides of the Rio Grande River in New Mexico. It was the first war between Europeans and Native Americans in the American West.

March 22, 1622

Jamestown Massacre

Powhatan Indians kill 347 English settlers throughout the Virginia colony during the first Powhatan War.

1622-44

Powhatan Wars

Following an initial period of peaceful relations in Virginia, a twelve year conflict left many natives and colonists dead. 

1636-37

Pequot War

Taking place in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the death of a colonist eventually led to the destruction of 600-700 natives. The remainder were sold into slavery in Bermuda.

May 26, 1637

Mystic Massacre

During the Pequot War, English colonists, with Mohegan and Narragansett allies, attack a large Pequot village on the Mystic River in what is now Connecticut, killing around 500 villagers.

1675-1676

King Philip's War

King Philip's War erupts in New England between colonists and Native Americans as a result of tensions over colonist's expansionist activities. The bloody war rages up and down the Connecticut River valley in Massachusetts and in the Plymouth and Rhode Island colonies, eventually resulting in 600 English colonials being killed and 3,000 Native Americans, including women and children on both sides. King Philip (the colonist's nickname for Metacomet, chief of the Wampanoag) is hunted down and killed on August 12, 1676, in a swamp in Rhode Island, ending the war in southern New England. In New Hampshire and Maine, the Saco Indians continue to raid settlements for another year and a half.

1680-92

Pueblo Revolt

In Arizona and New Mexico, Pueblo Indians led by Popé, rebelled against the Spanish and lived independently for 12 years. The Spanish re-conquered in them in 1692.

1689–1697

King William's War

The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was fought between England, France, and their respective American Indian allies in the colonies of Canada (New France), Acadia, and New England. It was also known as the Second Indian War (the first having been King Philip's War).

1689-1763

French and Indian War

A conflict between France and Britain for possession of North America. For various motivations, most Algonquian tribes allied with the French; the Iroquois with the British.

February 8, 1690

Schenectady Massacre

French and Algonquins destroy Schenectady, New York, killing 60 settlers, including ten women and at least twelve children.

February 29, 1704

Deerfield Massacre

A force comprised of Abenaki, Kanienkehaka, Wyandot and Pocumtuck Indians, led by a small contingent of French-Canadian militia, sack the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 civilians and taking dozens more as captives.

1711

Tuscarora War

Taking place in Northern Carolina, the Tuscarora, under Chief Hancock, attacked several settlements, killing settlers and destroying farms. In 1713, James Moore and Yamasee warriors defeated the raiders.

1715-1718

Yamasee War

In southern Carolina, an Indian confederation led by the Yamasee came close to exterminating a white settlement in their region.

August, 1757

Fort William Henry Massacre

Following the fall of Fort William Henry, between 70 and 180 British and colonial prisoners are killed by Indian allies of the French.

1760-62

Cherokee Uprising

A breakdown in relations between the British and the Cherokee leads to a general uprising in present-day Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas.

1763

Pontiac's Rebellion

In the Ohio River Valley, War Chief Pontiac and a large alliance drove out the British at every post except Detroit. After besieging the fort for five months, they withdrew to find food for the winter.

September 14,  1763

Devil's Hole Massacre

Seneca double ambush of a British supply train and soldiers.

December, 1763

Killings by the Paxton Boys

Pennsylvania settlers kill 20 peaceful Susquehannock in response to Pontiac's Rebellion.

July 26, 1764

Enoch Brown School Massacre

Four Delaware Indians killed a schoolmaster, 10 pupils and a pregnant woman. Amazingly two pupils who were scalped survived.

1774

Lord Dunmore's War

Shawnee and Mingo Indians raided a wave of traders and settlers in the southern Ohio River Valley. Governor Dunmore of Virginia, sent in 3,000 soldiers and defeated 1,000 natives.

1776-1794

Chickamauga Wars

A series of conflicts that were a continuation of the Cherokee struggle against white encroachment. Led by Dragging Canoe, who was called the Chickamauga by colonials, the Cherokee fought white settlers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

July 3, 1778

Wyoming Valley Massacre

Following a battle with rebel defenders of Forty Fort, Iroquois allies of the Loyalist forces hunt and kill those who flee, then torture to death those who surrendered.

August 31, 1778

Stockbridge Massacre

A battle of the American Revolution War that rebel propaganda portrayed as a massacre.

November 11, 1778

Cherry Valley Massacre

An attack by British and Seneca Indian forces on a fort and village in eastern New York during the American Revolution War. The town was destroyed and and 16 defenders were killed.

March 8, 1782

Gnadenhutten Massacre

Nearly 100 non-combatant Christian Delaware (Lenape) Indians, mostly women and children, were killed with hammer blows to the head by Pennsylvania militiamen.

1785-1795

Old Northwest War

Fighting occurred in Ohio and Indiana. Following two humiliating defeats at the hands of native warriors, the Americans won a decisive victory under "Mad Anthony" Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

1794

Nickajack Expedition

Cherokee Chief, Dragging Canoe, and his followers, who opposed the peace, separated from the tribe and relocated to East Tennessee, where they were joined by groups of Shawnee and Creek. Engaged in numerous raids on the white settlers for several years, they used Nickajack Cave as their stronghold. In 1894, the military attacked, leaving some 70 Indians dead.