Imperial War in Indian Country Flashcards
William Penn (1644-1718)
Slides:
~Founder of Pennsylvania (1682)
~Member of the “Society of Friends” or Quakers
—emphasis on pacifism and belief that anyone can have a direct relationship with God
~“Holy Experiment”
~Cultivated goodwill among the Lenni Lenape (Delaware)
research:
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania in 1682, was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers. His faith emphasized pacifism and the belief that every individual could have a direct relationship with God, principles that guided his vision for the new colony. Penn sought to create a “Holy Experiment,” a place where religious freedom and social harmony could flourish. His approach included fostering goodwill with the Lenni Lenape people, ensuring peaceful relations through negotiation and mutual respect. This commitment to equity and understanding not only shaped the foundation of Pennsylvania but also set a precedent for the importance of coexistence in a diverse society.
Nine Years War (1689-97)
-Called “King William’s War” in North America
research:
The Nine Years War, known as “King William’s War” in North America, spanned from 1689 to 1697 and marked a significant conflict between European powers that extended into the colonies. This war was primarily fought between the forces of England, aligned with the Iroquois Confederacy, and those of France, supported by various Native American tribes, including the Wabanaki Confederacy. The struggle was fueled by territorial disputes and the desire for control over trade routes and resources. In North America, the war saw a series of skirmishes and raids, with both sides attempting to secure dominance in the region. The conflict set the stage for further confrontations between the British and French colonial powers, ultimately influencing the geopolitical landscape of North America.
War of Spanish Succession (1702-13)
-Called “Queen Anne’s War” in North America
research:
The War of Spanish Succession, known as “Queen Anne’s War” in North America, lasted from 1702 to 1713 and was part of a larger conflict over the succession to the Spanish throne. In North America, this war primarily pitted the British against the French, with both sides engaging Native American allies to bolster their forces. The struggle was marked by a series of battles and raids, particularly in the northeastern territories, where both British and French colonial interests collided. Significant events included the siege of Quebec and the capture of several French forts. The war concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which shifted territorial control and significantly altered the balance of power in North America, laying the groundwork for future conflicts between British and French colonies.
Background:
The war began after the death of the childless Charles II of Spain, who left the Spanish throne to Philip of Anjou, a grandson of King Louis XIV of France. This raised concerns among other European powers, particularly because a unified Spanish-French monarchy could upset the balance of power.
Involvement of Britain and France:
Britain’s Role: Britain joined the Grand Alliance, which included the Dutch Republic, the Holy Roman Empire, and other states. They aimed to prevent French hegemony in Europe. The British were particularly concerned about maintaining trade routes and colonial interests, as well as countering French naval power.
France’s Role: France, under Louis XIV, supported Philip’s claim to the Spanish throne. Louis believed that uniting the two crowns would strengthen France’s position in Europe. However, this was met with resistance from other nations who feared French dominance.
Conflict:
The war saw battles across Europe, including significant engagements in Spain, the Low Countries, and Italy. While the conflict centered around the Spanish succession, it also represented the larger struggle for power among European states.
Outcome:
The war ended with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which recognized Philip as King of Spain but barred him from the French throne. This helped maintain a balance of power in Europe and marked the decline of French influence while strengthening Britain’s position as a leading naval power.
So, while the war was about succession in Spain, it was also a critical moment in the larger contest for European supremacy, involving many nations with vested interests.
Background:
War of Jenkin’s Ear (1739-1748)
The War of Jenkins’ Ear, fought from 1739 to 1748, was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that stemmed from ongoing tensions over trade and territorial disputes in the Caribbean and the Americas. The war was sparked by an incident involving British captain Robert Jenkins, whose ear was severed by a Spanish official, leading to outrage in Britain and calls for retaliation. In North America, the conflict manifested in naval battles and skirmishes along the southeastern coast and in the Caribbean, as British colonists sought to defend their trade routes and expand their territories. This war was marked by a mix of traditional military engagements and guerrilla tactics, highlighting the complexities of colonial warfare. Ultimately, the conflict became part of the larger global struggle for power between Britain and Spain, influencing future hostilities in the region.
Seven Years War (1754/6-1763)
slides:
-Called the French and Indian War in North America
-Also known as the “French and Indian War”
-Conflict between the French and English throughout the Atlantic World
-In North America, English settlers were trying to claim more Native land and defeat the French
-Native nations often forced to choose sides, and support either the French or English
research:
The Seven Years’ War, known in North America as the French and Indian War, spanned from 1754 to 1763 and was a pivotal conflict between Britain and France, along with their respective Native American allies. The war began over territorial disputes in the Ohio River Valley, as British colonists pushed westward, clashing with French interests and their Indigenous partners. The conflict saw major battles, including the notable Battle of Quebec, and highlighted the growing tensions between British colonial ambitions and French claims in North America. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, resulting in significant territorial gains for Britain, including Canada and Florida, while diminishing French influence on the continent. However, the financial strain of the war on Britain led to increased taxation of the American colonies, sowing the seeds of discontent that would ultimately contribute to the American Revolution.
Haudenosaunee
slides:
Confederacy of Native nations:
—Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas
Governed by the Great Law of Peace
—Treaty between five Nations
—One of the first and longest-standing examples of a participatory democracy in the world
General Edward Braddock (1695-1755)
slides:
-Led the expedition against Fort Duquesne, 1755
research:
General Edward Braddock was a British Army officer best known for his role in the French and Indian War, particularly for leading the ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755. Tasked with capturing the strategically significant fort, Braddock commanded a large force that included regular British troops and colonial militia. However, his conventional tactics and underestimation of the French and Native American forces led to a disastrous ambush near the fort. The battle resulted in significant casualties for the British, including Braddock himself, who was mortally wounded. His defeat highlighted the challenges of warfare in North America and the need for adaptable strategies in the face of unconventional tactics employed by the enemy, ultimately influencing subsequent military approaches in the region.
Neolin
-Lenni Lenape (Delaware) prophet
-Vision in 1760: Indians should join together against all Whites
-Urged his followers to stop trading with Europeans
-Preaching contained elements of Native and Christian traditions (ex: depiction of heaven/hell)
research:
Neolin, a Lenni Lenape prophet, emerged in the 1760s as a significant spiritual leader advocating for Native unity against European colonizers. He received a powerful vision urging Indigenous peoples to join together in resistance against the encroachment of white settlers, emphasizing the need to reclaim their lands and way of life. Neolin also encouraged his followers to stop trading with Europeans, believing that such interactions weakened their communities and traditions. His teachings uniquely blended Native beliefs with elements of Christian doctrine, incorporating concepts such as heaven and hell into his messages. This syncretism resonated deeply with many Indigenous peoples, as it offered a framework for understanding their struggles and aspirations in a rapidly changing world. Neolin’s call for unity and cultural revival had a lasting impact on Native resistance movements, inspiring subsequent generations to confront colonial challenges.
Consequences of War
slides:
-French depart from North America, dramatically shifting the balance of power
-Great Britain goes into massive debt
-Native nations in the Ohio Valley & Great Lakes region lose their French allies
-Hardening of racial animosities
-1763: “Line of Proclamation”
—British announce that colonists should not settle past the Appalachian Mountains.
—intended to stabilize British relations with Indians
research:
The conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763 had profound consequences that dramatically reshaped the landscape of North America. With the departure of the French, the balance of power shifted firmly in favor of Great Britain, which emerged as the dominant colonial force. However, this victory came at a cost, as Britain entered a period of massive debt, prompting the Crown to impose taxes on the American colonies, fueling discontent. Additionally, Native nations in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region lost their French allies, leaving them vulnerable and increasingly marginalized. The war also exacerbated existing racial animosities, as tensions rose between colonists and Indigenous peoples. In an effort to stabilize relations with Native nations, the British government implemented the Proclamation Line of 1763, which prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. This decision angered many colonists eager for expansion, further deepening the rift between Britain and its American territories and laying the groundwork for future conflict.
Paxton Boys
-Paxton boys: Scots-Irish colonists on the Pennsylvania frontier
-Attacked Native people indiscriminately
-Massacred a Native village at Conestoga
-Rising tensions & racial animosity as English people take Native land
research:
The Paxton Boys were a group of Scots-Irish colonists on the Pennsylvania frontier who emerged in the mid-18th century, driven by rising tensions and deep-seated racial animosities toward Native peoples. Frustrated by what they perceived as inadequate protection from Native attacks, they took matters into their own hands, attacking Indigenous communities indiscriminately. The most notorious act committed by the Paxton Boys was the massacre of a Native village at Conestoga in 1763, where they killed and mutilated defenseless residents, including women and children. This brutal violence highlighted the escalating conflict over land as English settlers increasingly encroached on Native territories, exacerbating hostilities and further entrenching a cycle of mistrust and violence between colonists and Indigenous nations. The actions of the Paxton Boys not only reflected the desperation of frontier settlers but also contributed to the broader context of colonial expansion and its violent repercussions on Native communities.
Imperial Crisis
-Great Britain is £137 million in debt after the Seven Years War/French and Indian War
-1764: Sugar Act
-1765: Stamp Act
-Town Meeting in Boston, 1764:
“…annihilates our charter right to govern and tax ourselves. It strikes at our British privileges which, as we have never forfeited them, we hold in common with our fellow subjects who are natives of Britain. If taxes are laid upon us in any shape without ever having a legal representation where they are laid, are we not reduced from the character of free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves?”
research:
The aftermath of the Seven Years War left Great Britain with a staggering £137 million in debt, prompting the Crown to impose a series of taxes on its American colonies in an attempt to recoup financial losses. The introduction of the Sugar Act in 1764, followed by the more controversial Stamp Act in 1765, ignited widespread dissent among colonists who felt their rights as British subjects were being violated. A pivotal moment in this growing discontent occurred during a town meeting in Boston, where colonists articulated their grievances with impassioned rhetoric, declaring that these taxes “annihilate our charter right to govern and tax ourselves.” They asserted that imposing taxes without legal representation stripped them of their status as free subjects, reducing them to “tributary slaves.” This growing sense of injustice and the call for representation signified the beginning of an imperial crisis, as colonists united against what they viewed as oppressive measures by the British government, ultimately setting the stage for the American Revolution.
Who is an “American”? How did imperial politics shape the creation of an “American” people?
1.Pennsylvania and Inter-European Conflict
2.French, English and Indians in North America
3.Seven Years War (aka French & Indian War)
4.Line of Proclamation (1763)
5.Neolin, Pontiac, and Native Rebellions
6.Paxton Boys & “Whiteness”
7.Imperial Crisis
1764: Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 was a British law aimed at raising revenue from the American colonies by imposing a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies. It was a revision of the earlier Molasses Act of 1733, which had been largely ineffective. The Sugar Act not only lowered the duty on molasses but also enforced stricter measures to ensure compliance, including increased enforcement against smuggling.
This act was part of a series of measures intended to help Britain recover from debt after the Seven Years’ War and to assert greater control over colonial trade. The Sugar Act was met with resistance from colonists, who viewed it as an infringement on their rights, leading to growing tensions that would eventually contribute to the American Revolution. It marked one of the early instances of colonial pushback against British taxation without representation.
1765: Stamp Act
The Stamp Act of 1765 was a pivotal piece of legislation imposed by the British Parliament that required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for a wide range of printed materials, including newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and even playing cards. This was the first direct tax levied on the colonies, and it aimed to raise revenue to help cover the costs of British troops stationed in North America after the French and Indian War.
The Stamp Act faced intense opposition from the colonists, who argued that it violated their rights as Englishmen since they had no representation in Parliament. This led to widespread protests, the formation of the Sons of Liberty, and organized boycotts of British goods. The backlash was so significant that it prompted Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766, but it also set the stage for further conflicts between Britain and the colonies, as it heightened awareness of the issues of taxation and representation, ultimately contributing to the American Revolution.
Pontiac
Pontiac was an Odawa leader known for his role in Pontiac’s Rebellion, which took place in the years following the French and Indian War (1763-1766). After the British took control of former French territories in North America, many Native American tribes, including Pontiac’s, became disillusioned with British policies and encroachments on their lands.
In 1763, Pontiac led a coalition of tribes in a series of attacks against British forts and settlements in the Great Lakes region, aiming to resist British control and protect Native American territories. Although the rebellion ultimately did not succeed in its objectives, it highlighted Native American resistance to colonial expansion and had lasting effects on British colonial policy.
