The late 1600s in North America were marked by violent confrontations that the authors present to continue the thread of The Evolving Concept of American Freedom. King Philip’s War, initiated by the Wampanoag leader Metacom, is underscored to illustrate The Impact of Social Movements and Political Conflicts on Liberty. This war, the authors argue, challenged the expansion of European settlers and led to significant losses for Indigenous communities, which translated into an expansion of land and autonomy for white settlers but a catastrophic reduction in life and freedom for Indigenous peoples.

This period highlighted The Significance of Diverse Groups in America, contrasting the increase in liberties for European colonists against the severe erosion of autonomy and territory for Indigenous peoples. Freedom and liberty are presented here as ideas and realities equally defined by their limits as much as their “expansion.” The authors suggest a paradox: As freedom expands for certain white folks, it erodes for groups often considered marginalized. The authors continue their agenda to detail just how much the experiences of Indigenous peoples have been integral in defining the shape of freedom in America.

Global Competition and the Expansion of England’s Empire

During the mid-17th century, England’s adoption of mercantilism and the Navigation Act aimed to control trade and assert dominance over the Dutch.