CDL: How Long Did the Seven Years' War Last in Indian Country?

1.        How was the relationship between the British and American colonists during the war?

The colonists fought with the British soldiers against the Indians but the British leaders treated them badly with torture and executions.  The American Colonists volunteered in great number to fight the Indians and the French and the colonists were grateful for the British military presence.  At the end of the war the British took credit for all of the winning the battle and the American Colonists felt as if they had been the ones who had actually sacrificed with lost lives. There were some colonists who attacked Indians putting aside the British leadership; this large group of colonists was never punished for their attack by the British.

2.        Explain the tension between the British and Americans, on one side, and Indians, on the other side.  For what reasons were these three groups—the British, the colonists, and Indians—fighting?  Why did more Indian tribes side with the French than with the British?

The tension between the American Colonists and the Indians was over their continually moving westward onto Indian land.    The tension between the British and Indians was because for one thing the British could not seem to communicate with the Indians well.  The French understood the Indians and their need to exchange gifts as a sign of respect.  The British were very stubborn and seen the Indian gift exchange as a weakness.  The Indians sided with the French more than the British because the French communicated well with the Indians and were more respectful of the Indian traditions of communication. 

3.        How did Indians, led by Pontiac, justify their “rebellion” again British forces and forts?

The Indians were tiring of the French backing off and the British taking over; they felt as if the French had deserted them.  The Indians made a pact to fight for Indian tradition and for the land their ancestors had left them. 

4.       What were the outcomes of the Seven Years’ War and how was that result important to British colonists and Indians?

The war left the Indians out of ammunition to fight and left the British broke.  The British military leader who had scoffed at Indian tradition and had been unwilling to attempt meaningful communication with the Indians was sent back to England and a new leader was sent who gave many gifts to the Indians in an attempt to be able to have more of a friendship with them.  For the Indians this probably was not really and end of the war but more of a break since the fighting continued for many years later.