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Wars of the United States |
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Thirteen Colonies |
United States |
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This list of Colonial American Wars includes military conflicts involving the Thirteen Colonies and their predecessor colonies from 1609 till 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 17 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.
This list is part of a larger series of list articles that cover the various wars involving the United States from its colonial roots to the present. They are:
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.
Colonial victory Colonial defeat |
Conflict | Allies | Opponent(s) | Result | English monarchs |
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Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1609–1646) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Colony of Virginia ![]() | Colony of Virginia | Powhatan confederacy | Colonial Victory [1] [2] [3] [4]
| James I (March 24, 1603 – March 27, 1625) |
Samuel Argall's raid on Acadia (1613) Location: Acadia ![]() | Virginia Company | Acadia Colony | Colonial Victory [5] [6] [7]
| James I (March 24, 1603 – March 27, 1625) |
New France expedition of the Anglo-French War (1627–1629) (1628–1629) Part of the Thirty Years' War Location: New France ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Status quo ante bellum [8] [9]
| Charles I (March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649) |
Pequot War (1636–1638) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: New England Colonies ![]() | ![]() Plymouth Colony Saybrook Colony Connecticut Colony Narragansett Mohegans | Pequot Tribe Western Niantic people | Colonial Victory [10] | Charles I (March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649) |
Acadian Civil War (1635–1654) Location: Acadia ![]() | St. John Administration led by Governor La Tour | Port Royal Administration led by Governor d'Aulnay Supported by: | Colonial/La Tour defeat [11]
| Charles I (March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649) No monarch |
Claiborne and Ingle's Rebellion (1644–1646) Part of the English Civil War and the Protestant Revolution of Maryland Location: Province of Maryland | Province of Maryland Maryland Catholics | Maryland Puritans Protestant Privateers | Colonial Victory [12] [13]
| Charles I (March 27, 1625 – January 30, 1649) |
English Invasion of Acadia (1654) Location: Acadia (Now part of the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the U.S. State of Maine). | |![]() ![]() | ![]() | Colonial Victory [14]
| No monarch (January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660) |
Battle of the Severn (1655) Part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms Location: Annapolis, Province of Maryland ![]() | Commonwealth supporters (primarily Puritan settlers) | Lord Baltimore's supporters (Royalist, non Puritan Protestant, and Catholic settlers) | Commissioners/ Puritan Victory/ Other Result [15]
| No monarch (January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660) |
Battle of Bloody Run (1656) Part of the American Indian Wars and the Beaver Wars Location: Richmond, Colony of Virginia | ![]() Pamunkey tribe | Unknown Iroquois tribe (possibly, Mahocks and Nahyssans or Richahecrians) | Colonial Defeat [16]
| No monarch (January 30, 1649 – May 29, 1660) |
Conquest of New Netherland (1664) Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War Location: New Amsterdam, New Netherland ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | English/Colonial Victory [17]
| Charles II (May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685) |
1st Battle of the James River (1667) Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War Location: James River, Jamestown, Colony of Virginia | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Dutch victory [18] | Charles 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 War Location: Province of New York and James River, Jamestown, Colony of Virginia | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Dutch victory [19]
| Charles II (May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685) |
Chowanoc War (1675–1677) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: Albemarle County, Province of Carolina | Province of Carolina | Chowanocs | Colonial Victory [20] | Charles II (May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685) |
King Philip's War (1675–1678) Part of the American Indian Wars Location: New England Colonies ![]() | ![]() | Wampanoags | Partial Colonial Victory
| 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 America Location: Jamestown, Colony of Virginia ![]() | ![]() Various Native American tribes | Rebels Indentured Servants | Colonial Victory
| Charles II (May 29, 1660 – February 6, 1685) |
King William's War (1st Intercolonial War) (1688–1697) Part of the Nine Years' War and the Indian Wars Location: North America ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Result
| James II (February 6, 1685 – December 23, 1688) Mary II William III |
Protestant Revolution (1689–1692) Part of the Glorious Revolution Location: Province of Maryland | ![]() | Protestant Associators | Associator victory
| William III (February 13, 1689 – March 8 1702) |
Criteria for inclusion on these lists |
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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. |