The Native Spiritual Economy and the Yamasee War

The Yamasee War was a significant event in the history of the Deep South for native people and colonists alike. Yet despite the importance of this event, little attention has been paid to the worldview of the indigenous participants and how this view shaped the events leading up to and the waging of the Yamasee War. This article describes the religious world of the indigenous inhabitants of the Deep South, demonstrates how religious imperatives formed the three native alliances most deeply involved in the war, and explains why English refusal to abide by religious diplomatic rituals and protocols led to the outbreak of hostilities.