Social Studies-Pontiac’s Rebellion and the Fall of New France

In the Seven Years War where and who did the fighting?

• Europe

• North America

• India

What were causes of the war?

• European rivalries: Britain and France competing for colonies, trade dominance and military supremacy

• Strategic locations: both wanted control of vital waterways such as the St. Lawrence River and Mississippi Rivers

• Competition for land and resources: both wanted control over the fur trade and the Ohio River Valley, and British Colonies pushed westward into French claimed territory

What were causes of a treaty needing to happen?

• Military defeats for France (British captured Louisbourg, Quebec (Plains of Abraham) and Montreal

• Economic Strain (debt from years at war for both France and Britain making peace a priority)

• Negotiation pressure (France couldn’t afford to lose more valuable colonies)

What did the Treaty of Paris 1763, state?

• British gained French territory in North America and Florida from Spain

• France kept a few small islands in the Atlantic and Carribean

• Spain received Louisiana

What was the immediate aftermath from the treaty?

• British dominance in North America

• French Canadians under British rule (but allowed the French to keep their language, religion (Roman Catholic) and civil laws to avoid rebellions)

• Indigenous people’ challenges (lost a crucial ally in the French, and territory)

What were some frustrations with the British from the Indigenous?

• The end of gift-giving a foundation of Indigenous and European relations

• Strict trade restriction-weapons and ammunition

• Expansion of British settlements, on Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes

• British occupation of former French forts, which became symbols of control rather than diplomacy

Who was Pontiac?

• Odawa war chief who gained battle experience fighting alongside the French in the Seven Years War

• Had strong oratory skills, able to unite diverse Indigenous nations under a common cause

• Odawa had long been French allies and Pontiac maintained strong ties with French traders+military officers

• Also had spiritual influence

Why did the Odawa nation have an advantage?

• Odawa was at the centre of trade networks

• They were in the Great Lakes region, giving Pontiac a strong political position

What promises did Pontiac make to other groups?

• A return of French support

• Restoration of traditional land and power

• Wealth from captured British forts

How did Pontiac gather support?

• Pontiac leveraged existing relationships and alliances to spread the call for rebllion

• Met directly with leaders of other nations in a series of councils where he:

• Explained the dangers of british rule

• Appealed to shared frustration about British policies

• Promised a coordinated attack on British forts to drive them out

• One of the most important councils took place in April 1763, when Pontiac held a war council near Detroit convincing leaders to join

Did Pontiac need other groups?

• Yes

• The British were too numerous and fortified

• limited numbers of Odawa warriors

• Geographic challenges

• Needed allies closer to British forts in the Ohio Valley and Pennsylvania to attack those regions while he focused on Detroit

What happened at Fort Michilimackinac?

• Indigenous warriors planned a surprise attack during a staged Lacrosse game (Little brother of war)

• The game drew British soldiers outside the fort

• When the ball went inside, warriors entered and pulled out hidden weapons

• Attacked and captured the fort

• Was labelled as a massacre by British

What was the political/societal affect of the events at Fort Michilimackinac?

• Showed Indigenous people were capable to organize and challenge British power

• Proved they were not weak or incapable

• Demonstrated unity among the Indigenous groups

What happened at the Siege of Detroit?

• Pontiac led hundreds of warriors in an attempt to capture Fort Detroit

• After surrounding the fort and laying siege for months, the British attacked Pontiac and his warriors in the Battle of Bloody Run

• The British were ultimately fought off and retreated

• Pontiac was never able to capture Fort Detroit

• sparked a wave of Indigenous uprising

What happened in the Battle of Blushy Run?

• Fort Pitt was under siege by Indigenous warriors, and the British were ambushed near Blushy Run

• British devised a deceptive retreat, luring the warriors into a trap and they were heavily defeated

• Turning point in favor of the British

• Biological warfare-Intentional spread of smallpox

What type of warfare did Amherst introduce?

• Biological warfare

• Spread smallpox using infected blankets given to alliances of Indigenous

What happened when the French and British signed a peace treaty?

• France did not return to help Indigenous peoples

• Indigenous groups began to lose hope in Pontiac’s promises

• British and French were no longer enemies

• Pontiac eventually made peace with British

What was the end of the Rebellion?

• 1764-1766

• Pontiac met with British officials and a peace treaty was signed ending the rebellion

What legacy did Pontiac leave?

• Pontiac’s influence faded (and assassinated)

• left an impression that the Indigenous nations were powerful, political forces and Britain needed to negotiate