This list of Colonial American Wars includes military conflicts involving the Thirteen Colonies and their predecessor colonies from 1609 to 1700. It covers the colonies that joined them prior to their Independence in 1776 (for example the Plymouth Colony merged with Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691 and the Saybrook Colony merged with Connecticut Colony in 1644). These would include the New England Colonies, Chesapeake Colonies, Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies, as well as in the British-controlled Ohio Country and Illinois Country.
There are 18 military conflicts in this list, excluded are all conflicts involving other British territories in British America that did not become part of the United States.
While this list is related to the wars involving the United States, it serves as a historical prequel in that it focuses on the colonies and territories that would later make up the United States. As such the criteria will be similar and different in several respects.
Key
17th century wars
ConflictAlliesOpponent(s)ResultEnglish monarchs First Anglo-Powhatan War(1609–1614)Part of the Anglo-Powhatan Wars and American Indian WarsLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of Virginia Powhatan confederacy Colonial Victory Peace of Pocahontas Several native tribes disappear from the historical record Powhatan confederacy became tributaries to the King of EnglandJames I(March 24, 1603 – March 27, 1625)Samuel Argall's raid on Acadia(1613)Location: AcadiaCurrent location in the United States: MaineVirginia CompanyAcadia ColonyColonial Victory Towns in Acadia successfully raided Prisoners TakenJames I(March 24, 1603 – March 27, 1625) Second Anglo-Powhatan War(1622–1632)Part of the Anglo-Powhatan Wars and American Indian WarsLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of Virginia Powhatan confederacy Colonial VictoryJames I(March 24, 1603 – March 27, 1625)
Charles I(March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649)Pequot War(1636–1638)Part of the American Indian WarsLocation: New England ColoniesCurrent locations in the United States: Connecticut, Rhode Island and New YorkPequot tribeWestern Niantic people Pequot defeat and massacre Treaty of Hartford (1638)Charles I(March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649)Acadian Civil War(1635–1654)Location: AcadiaCurrent location in the United States: MaineSt. John AdministrationSupported by: Massachusetts Bay ColonyPort Royal AdministrationSupported by: Catholic ChurchPort Royal temporary victory La Tour expelled by d'Aulnay La Tour later marries d'Aulnay's widow Jeanne Motin & resumes GovernorshipCharles I(March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649)
No monarch(January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660) Third Anglo-Powhatan War(1644–1646)Part of the Anglo-Powhatan Wars and American Indian WarsLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of Virginia Powhatan confederacy Colonial VictoryCharles I(March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649)Claiborne and Ingle's Rebellion(1644–1646)Part of the English Civil War and Protestant Revolution of MarylandLocation: Province of MarylandCurrent location in the United States: MarylandMaryland Catholics Maryland proprietary colonial militiaMaryland Puritans Puritan privateers (pirates) outlawsColonial Victory With the end of hostilities, the Maryland colonial assembly issued the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 to allow religious freedom for Catholics to worship in the colony.Charles I(March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649)English Invasion of Acadia(1654)Location: AcadiaCurrent location in the United States: Maine New England Confederation France/New FranceEnglish Victory Acadia becomes a colony from 1654 to 1667No monarch(January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660)Battle of the Severn(1655)Part of the Wars of the Three KingdomsLocation: Province of MarylandCurrent location in the United States: MarylandCommonwealth supporters (primarily Puritan settlers)Lord Baltimore's supporters (Royalist, non Puritan Protestant, and Catholic settlers)Commissioners/ Puritan Victory/ Other Result Both Commissioners and Stone Claimed jurisdiction over the Province of Maryland Governor Stone Removed from contested power Ultimately Lord Baltimore Retains power and religious freedom was proclaimed in the ProvidenceNo monarch(January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660)Battle of Bloody Run(1656)Part of the American Indian Wars and the Beaver WarsLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of Virginia Pamunkey tribeUnknown Iroquois tribe (possibly, Mahocks and Nahyssans or Richahecrians)Colonial Defeat Pamunkey allies abandoned Chief Totopotomoi killed Nearly all of the Pamunkey warriors and many Colonial Rangers killed Colonel Edward Hill stripped of his rank Having felt betrayed the Pamunkey would only send a token force to aid Virginia against native raids prior to Bacon's RebellionNo monarch(January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660)Conquest of New Netherland(1664)Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch WarLocation: New Amsterdam, New NetherlandCurrent location in the United States: New YorkEnglish/Colonial Victory Surrender of New Netherland Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War Province of New York createdCharles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)First Battle of the James River(1667)Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch WarLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of VirginiaDutch victoryCharles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)Dutch Raid on North America(1672–1674)Part of the Franco-Dutch War and the Third Anglo-Dutch WarLocation: Province of New York and Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: New York and Virginia Colony of Virginia New England ConfederationDutch victory Second Battle of the James River in 1673 Dutch briefly reconquer New Netherland(1673-1674) Peace Treaty of Westminster in 1674Charles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)Chowanoc War(1675–1677)Part of the American Indian WarsLocation: Albemarle County, Province of CarolinaCurrent location in the United States: North CarolinaProvince of CarolinaChowanocsColonial VictoryCharles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)King Philip's War(1675–1678)Part of the American Indian WarsLocation: New England ColoniesCurrent locations in the United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island New England Confederation Mohegans
Pequots
MohawksWampanoags Nipmucs
PodunksNarragansettsNashaway
Wabanaki ConfederacyPartial Colonial Victory New England Confederation Victory South of Maine Wabanaki Confederacy Victory in Maine Charles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)Bacon's Rebellion(1676–1677)Part of the American Indian Wars and the Slave Rebellions in North AmericaLocation: Colony of VirginiaCurrent location in the United States: Virginia Colony of Virginia Various Native American tribesRebelsIndentured Servants SlavesColonial Victory Rebellion suppressed Mass executions of the rebellion's leaders Governor William Berkley recalled to England Hundreds of Natives killedCharles II(May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685)King William's War(First Intercolonial War)(1688–1697)Part of the Nine Years' War and the Indian WarsLocation: North AmericaCurrent locations in the United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York New England New York IroquoiaMohicans WabanakiaAlgonquinKahnawakeInconclusive/Other Result Peace of Ryswick Status quo ante bellumJames II(February 6, 1685 – December 23, 1688)
Mary II(February 13 1689 – December 28, 1694)
William III(February 13, 1689 – March 8 1702)Protestant Revolution(1689–1692)Part of the Glorious RevolutionLocation: Province of MarylandCurrent location in the United States: Maryland Province of MarylandProtestant AssociatorsAssociator victory John Coode takes over as Governor of the Province of Maryland William Joseph deposed as Governor The Calvert family deposed as Lord proprietors of Maryland giving direct rule to the Crown Catholicism is outlawed in Maryland and would not be restored until after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence The Church of England becomes the official Church of MarylandMary II (February 13, 1689 - December 28, 1694) William III (February 13, 1689 – March 8 1702)
See also
Colonial American military history List of incidents of civil unrest in Colonial North America British America Colonial history of the United States New Netherland settlements French and Indian Wars British colonization of the Americas Culpeper's Rebellion Josias Fendall#Fendall's Rebellion 1689 Boston revolt Leisler's Rebellion Gove's Rebellion Pennamite–Yankee War The Black Boys rebellion Charter Oak#Incident Timeline of the American Revolution New Sweden New Spain Russian colonization of North America Scottish colonization of the Americas Danish colonization of the Americas Curonian colonization of the Americas Hospitaller colonization of the Americas Saint Thomas (Brandenburg colony) Slave rebellion and resistance in the United States Military history of the Acadians List of conflicts in British America Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) New Holland (Acadia) Sixty Years' War Raid on Newfoundland (1665) Vermont Republic Calendar (New Style) Act 1750# Action of 17 July 1628 Surrender of Quebec German colonization of the Americas
Notes Criteria for inclusion on these lists 1. Being that rebellions were much more common in this area, produced a great loss of life per capita in the region where they were fought, and were more geopolitically significant, rebellions are allowed to be included in this list, with the exception of slave rebellions. However, bloodless rebellions will not be included unless there is a change in territory, but all other rebellions can be linked in the see also section. Riots such as the Boston Massacre or the Knowles Riot and/or vigilantism such the burning of the Peggy Stewart or the Boston Tea Party should likewise not be included. If it can be established that a North American based anti piracy campaign can be established this may be included. 2. Extended wars focusing on European or other non British North American colonies should only be included if a successor colony or territory is included in some way or affected a colony. For example, the Nine Years' War should not be included, but King William's War should be included as it is the portion of the war that focuses on the North America theater. 3. Colonial Wars not including the 13 British Colonies and/or territories that became the United States should generally not be included especially if there was no British involvement. For example conflicts such as the Dutch Conquest of New Sweden should not be included, though they may be referenced in the see also section.
References