The 2011 Essay topic was: Discuss how King Philip's War could have been avoided
or was it inevitable and why? 

*** An excerpt from the winning 2011 essay by Alyse McKernon***

King Philip's War lasted a little over a year, beginning in June 1675 and ending in August of 1676. It began in Plymouth Colony and continued to spread thoughout the rest of New England. In my opinion, King Philip's War was inevitable and could not have been prevented.
The main cause why I believe King Philip's War could not be prevented is because the Native Americans and the European settlers both had different views. The Native Americans believed that land wasn't a possession that could be obtained through money, and they also believed that one should only use what they needed. The Europeans views were very different because in their opinion land was a possession and when they owned it they thought they had the right to use it the way they wanted. The European Colonists livestock would continue to trample and destroy the Native American crops and create ongoing problems. The European settlers and the Native Americans didn't share the same views in most areas and often clashed. The lack of similarity between the two cultures created an undeniable sense of tension and therefore seemed to be a main cause of Philip's War.

***** See the November newsletter for more of Alyse's essay *****