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The First Nations and the

War

Page 114

Chief Pontiac of the


Odawa

What role did First Nations play


in the war between France and
England?

Most First Nations supported the French


because they had been trading partners for a
long time
Some Haudenosaunee sided with the British
Some First Nations fought independently
against the enemy
First Nations didnt stop fighting after French
surrendered
British were forced to negotiate a treaty with
First Nations before they could claim they won

Reasons for Anxiety


After war, France and Britain signed Treaty (1763)
which gave Britain control of most of North America
First Nations were not invited to the treaty talks
The French governor made the British promise not
to take revenge against First Nations who sided
with the French
First Nations were worried about the British
newcommers
English farmers were moving into Ohio River valley
First Nations were losing their lands
They began to consider war against British

Pontiacs War Against the British


Pontiac the leader of the Odawa
convinced several First Nations to join together to
force the British out of the Ohio River Valley
May 1763, Pontiac and the Odawa laid siege
(attacked) to British fort: Detroit
Around the same time, Pontiacs allies captured
forts along the south and west of Lake Erie
They captured 7 out of 10 British Forts (see map
next slide)

Pontiac hoped the French would come to


help them since he and his allies had helped the
French fight the British (in their war)
French had already surrendered at Montreal
British sent troops to fight First Nations
Pontiacs alliance fell apart
British now controlled most of North America

After the War: New Challenges


First Nations were tired of war but were afraid
that newcomers would take their lands
Canadiens were rebuilding the colony they
worried about whether or not they would be able
to continue speaking French and worship the
Catholic religion they were afraid they would
suffer the same way as the Acadians

Challenges British Rulers faced...


British Rulers now had a colony of 70 000 people
who spoke a different language and practiced a
different religion
Canadiens had a different form of government,
followed different laws, and had different ways of
doing things
British also worried about First Nations who had
been allies with the French
How were the British going to make Canadiens
and First Nations peoples loyal to British Crown?

Treaty of Paris, 1763


With French surrendering Montreal in 1760 the
war was over in North America BUT British and
French kept fighting for 3 more years in Europe
1763 France and Britain signed Treaty of Paris
ending the Seven Years War
Results of Treaty of Paris:
France gave up control of Quebec or any other
part of North America
France got Guadeloupe a sugar producing
island in Caribbean
French also got to keep tiny islands: Saint-Pierre &
Miquelon near the coast of Newfoundland

Choices for the Future


British had gained control over what was New France now they
had to decide how to govern the colony. They had 3 options
EVICTION should the British evict the Canadiens from their
homes and deport them from North America (like they did to the
Acadians)
ASSIMILATION should the British pressure the Canadiens to
give up their language and religion and become loyal British
subjects? (Assimilation means to force another culture to give up
their ways to become like the culture in charge)

Choices continued...
ACOMMODATION should the British leave the
Canadiens alone to live as they always had, with
their own religion, language and customs?
(Accomodation = like making compromises)
British also had to decide whether to make land
agreements with First Nations peoples
And what to do about the Ohio River Valley

Royal Proclamation 1763


British first decided to ASSIMILATE the
Canadiens make them more like the British
The Canadiens would lose their language and
culture
October 1763, King George III (England) signed
Royal Proclamation which laid out British
governments plans for the colony
The Proclamation brought in British institutions
and laws and prevented settlement west of the
Appalachian mountains this forced American
colonists who wanted land to move to Quebec

Terms of Royal Proclamation


New France became known as Province of Quebec
Quebec became much smaller
Interior lands were set aside for First Nations peoples
British laws and courts replaced French system
Civil government replaced military government
New government would consist of a governor and
appointed council of advisors
Catholic church was no longer allowed to tithe (tax) or
sit on council of advisors or hold senior jobs in
government

Recognition for First Nations


Think back to Pontiacs War Pontiac made the
British realize that they had to pay attention to
demands of First Nations
In Royal Proclamation Britain set aside a huge
area of land for First Nations
It included all lands West of Appalachian
Mountains and east of Mississippi River
Europeans were NOT allowed to live there

The Quebec Act of 1774


Britains attempt to turn Quebec into a colony
with British identity failed
Canadiens had too strong of their own identity
they couldnt be made British
Also only a few hundred English-speaking
people moved to Quebec
The colonists in the Thirteen Colonies were
getting frustrated with British Rule
The British didnt want trouble in Quebec too
They decided to give the Canadiens back their
rights that they took away with the Proclamation

Terms of The Quebec Act


Quebec was expanded to its original size
Much of the land that was set aside for First Nations
became part of Quebec
French language rights were recognized
French Seigneurial system remained in place
Catholics were given freedom of Religion & were
allowed to hold government jobs
French civil law would be used in matters of
property, inheritance and to settle disputes
Roman Catholic Church now had the right to own
property and tax the people (tithe)

Bilingualism
Bilingualism means that Canada has two
official languages (French and English)
because we had two countries that formed
Canada (France and Britain)
What does Bilingualism mean for us?
Canadian Citizens have the right to
government services in either language and do
business in either language; labels on products
must be printed in both languages, etc.

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