How American Revolution Affected Natives Essay

Submitted By jherrick1
Words: 1249
Pages: 5
Open Document
Jonathan Herrick
TR 11 am homework assignment
The impact of the American Revolution on the Native Americans The American Revolutionary War did not begin with the "Shot Heard 'Round the World". It had its roots in the very first settlements in North America.The American Revolution divided the Iroquois Confederation and brought a miasma of death and destruction into the heart of a union and the newly formed Americas. The Iroquois were a large indian tribe that had relations with the Mohawk, Seneca, and Tuscarora nations which during the seventeenth century which inhabited New York and Ontario. During the colonial period, the Iroquois tribe was the among the largest and most proficient. "The Iroquois were questionably one of the strongest Indian tribes during that time. Sir William Johnson managed to get the Iroquois to side with British troops during the Seven Year War and worked to avoid being involved in a conflict between the colonies and the natives. In 1775 a meeting was held, the Iroquois decided to announce itself neutral in the oncoming war (Indians and american Revolution)" . I would like to note that the Iroquois never violated its original promise to remain neutral. The Iroquois tribe required unanimous consent in order to declare war and therefor remained neutral due to the ability to agree unanimously. This gave the independent Iroquois tribes autonomy over their course of action pertaining to the war. Ultimately this bred conflict and turmoil between neighboring tribes which resulted in the birth of division within the tribe. By 1778, 4 of the indian tribes would side with the British while too would continue to support the American rebels (choosing sides)". The aftermath of this separation would prove to cause a civil war between the Iroquois and in some areas invasion by Continental Army. Two important people who had a large influence on the choice of sides among the divided were Chief Joseph Brant from tribe of the Mohawk's Nation Samuel Kirkland who was a missionary from the colonies. Chief Brant was a revered by William Johnson and throughout his career rose to prestige within the British society. Brant believed the British would protect the Iroquois from the spreading American colonies and that an alliance with them meant advantage for the Confederation. He witnessed the power of the British empire and anticipated a partnership in North America that would allow the Iroquois to thrive. He believed the colonists were unruly and were not to be trusted. The constant push into Iroqouis territory caused countless conflicts and wars before the American Revolution officially began. The rebellion had already begun by the time Brant arrived back to the America's from a visit to England in 1776. "Brant first landed in New York City just as rebel troops being lead by George Washington began their attack, Brant entered right into the chaos of the war. Managing to slip through the American lines, Chief Brant returned home to the Iroquois and began a mission to convince the rest of the tribes to agree to side with the British(Indians and american Revolultion)". As Chief Brant spent time traveling throughout the confederation, Brant managed to establish common grounds with the leaders of the Seneca, Cayuga, Mohawk, and Onondaga nations convincing them to fight with the british. "Brant was consequently made the Chief of War for the engagement. By 1777, Brant was leading an army of over 800 Iroquois warriors, helping the British troops (over 900) in an attempt to take on Fort Stanwix. Even though unable to bring down the fort, Brant and his regiment showed their power and ferociousness against the colonists(the native americans)". As Chief Brant was strengthening his alliance with the british, the Oneida and Tuscarora tribes struggled remain neutral. However, missionary Samuel Kirkland saw the possibility of a different relationship between the Iroqoius and the settlers. Having lived among the Oneida for
Show More

Related Documents: How American Revolution Affected Natives Essay

Howard H. Peckham: The Colonial War

the French and the British over the vast lands of American soil. They acquire information about the how it changed the land holdings, greatly in England’s favor. One often does not learn about the fight for political geography or the feelings of the Native Americans who were greatly affected by these long and strenuous wars. They also often do not learn about how these Colonial Wars lead to the uniting of the colonies and the American Revolution that forever changed the world. Textbooks may not teach…

Words 1352 - Pages 6

Hypocrisy Influence On American History

Imagine how different American history would be without the affects inspiration and hypocrisy and how they shaped the early United States. Early American history is defined rather equally by both inspiration and hypocrisy they just affected early America in different ways. This is shown by the treatment of native American Indians by early white settlers as well as when early American citizens rebelled against English rule, and how the very first settlers or the puritans changed American history.…

Words 654 - Pages 3

Assignment 07: American Revolution And The Founding Fathers

Assignment 07: Section A: I do remember studying the American Revolution and the founding fathers as a child. I remember learning about the taxation disputes, the Declaration of Independence, the Boston tea party, the Battle of Lexington, the surrender in Yorktown, Virginia, and various other battles. There are things that I have reconsidered about the American Revolution, such as how it all began, happened, and the results from it. There was much I had not learned previous to this class. The…

Words 687 - Pages 3

Essay about The Significance of Trans-Appalachian Frontier

the Atlantic History: Trans-Appalachian Frontier Is Not the Most Significant Area Throughout the Atlantic History Normally introduced as separate warfare, each of the wars duringin the period fromof 1754 to 1815, including Seven Years’ War, American Revolution, Indian Wars, and the War of 1812, were in fact intimately linked as dominos. In his article, “Trans-Appalachian Frontier in Atlantic History”, Francois Furstenberg stressed the importance of Trans-Appalachian Frontier in Atlantic hHistory by…

Words 1693 - Pages 7

Pox America Summary

overshadowed by the American Revolution. Through the epidemic, Fenn reveals that nearly every resident of North America had one commonality, smallpox. She argues that while the American Revolution certainly changed global politics forever, the smallpox epidemic was, “The defining and determining event of the era for many residents of North America.” Aside from the American Revolution the smallpox epidemic was the greatest upheaval to occur on the continent during those years, and reveals to us how people actually…

Words 904 - Pages 4

Investigatio Navigation Act: The Road To The Revolution

The Road to the Revolution Have you ever wondered how America, the land of the free and home of the brave, managed to win the Road to the Revolution? How our people fought for freedoms and rights that would later benefit all of us. The Road to the Revolution covered many events which started with the Navigation Acts of 1660, French and Indian War:1754-1763, Pontiac’s Rebellion and Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act:1764, Stamp Act: 1765, Declaratory Act: 1766, Townsend Act: 1767, The Boston Massacure:1770…

Words 1616 - Pages 7

Relationship Between The Europe's Relationship With The Americas

expand economically by seeking resources, which they could use and sell to other countries. They exploited the natives and used them as slaves for their own benefit. While exchanging resources, they brought with them diseases resulting in countless deaths of the natives. Europeans also relentlessly in tried to spread Christianity. They viewed it as their responsibility to convert the natives to the religion they deemed acceptable. From the beginning of the European colonization, they viewed the Americas…

Words 1443 - Pages 6

How Did The Columbian Exchange Influence The Americans

rifles, muskets, and bullets and horses compared to the Aztec and Incan Empires. Not only weapons, but the Europeans had allies. They had the support from the Native Americans. Furthermore, there were many diseases such as measles and smallpox that the Europeans brought with them that also helped in wiping out the Aztec and Incan Empire. The American tribes had no natural immunity to the diseases. This led to the killing of the rulers of both the Aztecs and Incas, along with millions of other people. The…

Words 1546 - Pages 7

Revolutionary Mothers Essay

different life than their predecessors. The women of the revolution were courageous and brave-hearted. The obstacles of their time were far more difficult to overcome than those faced by women in this day and age. Whether it was slavery, war, or racial prejudice, these women kept their heads held high and worked to break down these barriers and create change for the future. On top of having to deal with these hardships, the women of the revolution had families to take care of, mouths to feed, houses…

Words 1628 - Pages 7

Changes From Different Eras

and Dutch colonies accepted intermarriage and cross-racial sexual unions with native peoples or Africans; however, the English colonies rarely intermarried. The New England colonies seeked to establish a community of like-minded religious believers, with a close-knit society. Spanish colonizing efforts in North America saw an accommodation with some aspects of American Indian culture; by contrast, conflict with American Indians tended to reinforce English colonists’ views on land and gender roles…

Words 787 - Pages 4