The Aftermath of the American Revolution - Essay Example

French and Indian War The American Revolution has reflected desire of colonists to leave from under the despotism of the British crown. They have accused the king that it has violated their rights as English citizens. For the different reasons many colonists have kept fidelity to a crown; them began to be named as loyalists, or torry. And they were not lonely: Englishmen could find to themselves allies in New Land, and such allies became American Indian tribes. Basically kind attitudes with Indians have remained from the old contracts, concluded more than hundred years back. These allies were the present soldiers and at the certain stages have rendered the real help in struggle against rebels. At the same time not only the representatives of the king concluded the treaties with Indians: so also colonists often acted and owing to this had an opportunity to beat off from Englishmen with greater efficiency. As a rule, the treaties were not strong: because of language and, that is more important, racial barrier, they were observed only during war when "pale" really required the American Indian help. However the case with Iroquoises of New York was an exception: their friendship with Englishmen though was exposed to serious tests, but it has appeared unexpectedly strong1. The iroquoises occupied the territory from New York up to northern Pennsylvania, and separate settlements were further to the north, the south and the West, to Great Lakes. They represented an extensive conglomerate of the tribes connected by the general origin. The iroquoises were strong and numerous people and consequently many from Europeans searched for friendship with them. In 1608 de Shamplen has based one of the first euro-Indian coalitions between the Frenchmen and Hurons. In the end of the same year Shamplen helped in the war with iroquoises to Algonquins, Grisons. For this he has taken from them the promise to help him in studying continent and to protect colonists and dealers who would come after him. Any time the Frenchmen observed the contract with Grisons; therefore they became enemies to the iroquoises, and iroquoises have found allies on behalf of Englishmen2. When in 1664 British have beaten off at Dutchs of Albany, they have realized the benefit of the union with iroquoises. The problem of the establishing the friendly relationship with the League was trusted to the colonel G. Cartright. In November, 1687 the protection of a crown has extended already on all Union of five peoples. This contract allowed Englishmen to develop the New England. The Frenchmen stirred to both allies: to British - to keep the colonies, and iroquoises - to distribute the authority above all tribes of the region. The iroquoises were in a condition of war with the Frenchmen since 1608. Struggle between the Frenchmen and iroquoises has reached the maximum heat in 1689, during the War of King Wilhelm; then Indians did not give the enemy to respite. For the Englishmen, naturally, it played on a hand, they however were pleased not for long: to 1690 the Indians have started to get tired of war. The most far-sighted leaders have understood, that Englishmen and the Frenchmen have remained unique who could compete with them in force. For this reason they have decided to give the whites an opportunity to kill each other. With time Englishmen became more powerful; the iroquoises kept with them the warm relationship3. A real test of this union on durability became the Seven-year war (French-American Indian) which has burst in 1754 the Frenchmen originally were not only are strong, but also successful, striking exact blows in the weak spots of the enemy. Englishmen have made weight of strategic miscalculations, and in the beginning of 1755 in general seemed, that all for them is already lost. Then general E.Breddoc has suffered a loud defeat, and it became indirect acknowledgement of the superiority of American Indian style of war against British "line". The tactics of ambushes was magnificent in a wood where habitual to Europeans - a line and columns - could not maneuver fighting orders, and even simply be constructed properly. For Indians the similar methods of guerrilla war were the usual phenomenon. Englishmen not at once have acquired this lesson, but eventually have got used and even have created for conducting "the forest war" the groups of easy infantry. The majority of American Indian tribes have acted on the party of France, Englishmen were able to manage their arrangement due to the efforts of the personal friend of the iroquoises - colonel W.Johnson. After the defeat of Breddoc Johnson has headed a small group of iroquoisean soldiers and went together with two thousand civil guardsmen to the lake George. Among iroquoises there were Hendrick, and Joseph Brant. The fighting which took place on the lake George is very difficult to estimate; Englishmen have reached there the little, however have noted it as a great victory. Johnson has received a title of baronet and a post of the super quartermaster in American Indian affairs in the northern colonies4. It became unique connecting string between an English staff and American Indian allies. Its influence on the iroquoises has appeared so strong, that other tribes have kept fidelity to a crown and after his death. In that war Johnson has served up to the general-major and when has retired, has continued to play a role of the English ambassador in League. Only thanks to him the Englishmen are obliged that the iroquoises supported them in war up to the end. In 1763 the French-American Indian war has come to the end, and New France has stopped the existence. The iroquoises together with the Englishmen celebrated their victory; however by then they have practically remained in loneliness. The next American Indian tribes were strongly disappointed in Englishmen: colonists continued to attack their possession, and Indians were filled with the determination to put the end to it. Under the direction of Pontiac, the leader of a tribe Ottawa, some tribes in 1763 have taken up arms and attacked the western border of the British colonies. They almost have completely cleared it of white settlements - Detroit has resisted only. However Pontiac could not convince the Iroquoises to join the army. So in League seeds of split were put. Another part of League have kept "the eternal Great World"5. As the history has shown, the friendship with white has not brought to the Union of six peoples anything, except for burning. Though "the Great League" and until now exists in Canada, but it is far from former greatness. The American Revolution has divided its peoples and has turned them against each other. Joseph Brant was one of the main supporters of Englishmen, from it only Englishmen however have won. But Joseph Brants dream of the world has helped Iroquises to begin a new life with Canada and so "the Great World" has really appeared eternal. References Brandon William. Indians. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. Goldstein Robert A., French-Iroquois Diplomatic and Military Relations 1609-1701. Paris: Mouton, 1969. Trelease Allen W., Indian Affairs in Colonial New York: The Seventeenth Century. New York: Cornell University Press, 1960. Parker Arthur C., The History of the Seneca Indians. New York: Ira J. Friedman, 1967. Kelsay Isabel Thompson, Joseph Brant 1743-1807: Man of Two Worlds. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1984. Read More