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Review
| Subjects unto the Same King: Indians, English, and the Contest for Authority in Colonial New England, by Jenny Hale. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005. 384 pages. $35.00, cloth.
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| Jenny Hale Pulsipher's work offers readers—particularly those interested in the field of ethnohistory—an important and fresh analysis of the clash of cultures, identities, and ethnicity in colonial New England. She relates a tale of near-constant political intrigue and turmoil in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The central narrative here is about the desperate attempt by the leaders of the Massachusetts colony to retain control over their affairs as well as the affairs of the surrounding Indians and, indeed, the affairs of neighboring colonies (including Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine). The strength of this book is Pulsipher's masterful use of the available primary resources for this era in American colonial history. Throughout, she allows the central figures of the unfolding dramas to be heard through their own words. This balanced approach allows for both nuance and great subtlety in the presentation of historical figures who for too long have been mere stereotypes in American history texts (one need only think of the laughably ludicrous portrayal of colonial culture in recent Hollywood productions like The Scarlet Letter). Figures like Wampanoag sachem Philip and Puritan nemesis Edward Randolph appear in all their humanity in Pulsipher's able prose. |
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Pulsipher's extensive use of primary resources does not mean, however, that the book is not full of meaningful and important insights. Perhaps the most important of these, and no doubt the most useful for history teachers at all levels, is her insistence that the contest for supremacy in colonial New England was much more complicated than we have often been led to believe. The racial component, such as the devastating bloodletting of King Philip's War, was but one facet of this contest. Pulsipher also highlights the bitter disagreements that raged between Massachusetts Bay and her neighboring colonies, between Puritan leaders in Massachusetts and an increasingly diverse (and tolerant) populace, and even between and among Indian nations of the region. The complex maze of alliances and enemies is often mind-numbingly ambiguous to the reader; exactly, one imagines, as it must have been to the players themselves. The tired old story of English versus Indian receives a long-needed overhaul and updating. The insightful analysis is particularly rewarding when Pulsipher is discussing the relationship between the colonists and the indigenous groups. She accurately points out the crucial fact that the basis of the early interaction between American Indian nations and their new neighbors was one of mutual respect and equal status. The seminal treaty of 1621 serves as the early model of this relationship. As Massachusetts began to feel its hold in New England to be less tenuous, the colony's leaders began to redefine the status of the Indians. Massachusetts bristled at the notion that Indians were equal subjects worthy of the Crown's protection or attention. The Indians, of course, saw no need to settle for a subservient status to their English friends. This conflict would have deadly consequences that would, as Pulsipher adroitly points out, radically alter the status of both sides. |
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The primary contribution of this book to historical scholarship and understanding is in the presentation of the deep complexity of the struggles of colonial New England. It has great potential for use in both undergraduate and graduate history courses, and could also be used as a primer on early American political thought and the struggles that would lead inexorably to the doorstep of the American revolution. Because Pulsipher insists on moving the conversation about cultural conflict in the New England colonies away from the traditionally narrow view of purely racial misunderstandings, this book could be a necessary eye-opener for many undergraduate history students. If there is a shortcoming with this book, it may be that it promises more than it ultimately delivers. In her introduction, Pulsipher writes that her thesis that Indians were power players in a cultural and political battle over authority in New England "is one that has not been adequately told." True enough, perhaps, but that is not the story this book tells. This book is about the Massachusetts Bay Colony and its desperate attempt to gain, consolidate, and maintain power throughout colonial New England. To be sure, the indigenous peoples of the area are important players and Pulsipher points this out time and again. But the New England Indians are not the real focus of this work. Still, this book is a valuable and important contribution that will be a welcome addition to many syllabi and classrooms. |
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| Appalachian State University |
James A. Bryant, Jr. |
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