The Wampanoag were an Algonquian-speaking North American Indians who formerly occupied parts of what are now the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and adjacent islands. They were traditionally semisedentary, moving seasonally between fixed sites. Corn (maize) was the staple of their diet, supplemented by fish and game. The tribe comprised several villages, each with its own local chief, or sachem.
More to Explore
People and Groups
Themes
Events
Related Topics
Recommended Articles
-
Thanksgiving
In 1621, Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast, acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations.
-
Narragansett
In the 17th century, the Narragansett was the largest of the Native American tribes living in pre-colonial Rhode Island.
-
Plymouth Colony
The first permanent European settlement in New England, Plymouth was founded by a group of religious separatists who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620.
-
Native American Cultures
Long before Columbus, another group of people discovered America: the nomadic ancestors of modern Native Americans.
Did You Know?
In 1600, there were nearly 12,000 Wampanoags in southeastern Massachusettes. By 1620, their numbers had been decimated by epidemics, and there were fewer than 6,000 members when the English arrived at Plymouth.
In 1620 the Wampanoag high chief, Massasoit, made a peace treaty with the Pilgrims, who had landed in the tribe's territory; the treaty was observed until Massasoit's death. Bad treatment by settlers who encroached on tribal lands, however, led his son, Metacom, or Metacomet, known to the English as King Philip, to organize a confederacy of tribes to drive out the colonists (see also King Philip's War). The colonists eventually defeated and killed King Philip and other leading chiefs, and the Wampanoag and Narragansett were almost exterminated. Some survivors fled to the interior, while others moved to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to join kin who had remained neutral during the conflict. Disease and epidemics destroyed most of the indigenous people who lived on Nantucket, but Wampanoag people survive to the present, particularly on Martha's Vineyard.
Early 21st-century population estimates indicated some 4,500 Wampanoag descendants.
Copyright © 1994-2009 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
Related Shows
-
America The Story of Us
America The Story of Us is an epic 12-hour television event that tells the extraordinary story of how America was invented.
This Day in History
Feb 9
Lead Story
Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame, 1971
On this day in 1971, pitcher Leroy "Satchel" Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that…
Shop HISTORY
-
-
Inside Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade DVD
Take a look inside the vision and dedication behind one of America's most cherished traditions.
$20.99
-
Email Updates
Keep up with the latest History shows, online features, special offers and more.
Sign upClassroom Study Guides
-
Jamestown Teachers Guide (PDF)
Curriculum companion to the program about the first permanent British settlement in North America.
-
Save Our History: Live from Jamestown Teacher's Guide (PDF)
