The past couple weeks I have embarked on a new historical period, following the age of exploration and piracy within the new world (1500-1700s). This latest fascination pertains to the era of colonialism within North America (1600-1700s). The first thoughts that come to mind when I think of the age of British colonialism are the conquest of the Native Americans, the settlement of the Puritans and Pilgrims, the story of Pocahontas, the Salem Witch Trials, and the French and Indian War. However it seems I know very little about this era and perhaps I have often overlooked it by the American Revolution that followed. I thus intend to make a deep historical dive into this period in 2 parts; first the study of the French and Indian War and later a general study regarding the Colonial age of British-America.
The inspiration for this latest historical phase is accredited to the game, Assassin's Creed: Rogue. The game is set in the 1750s-1760s in Northern Canada, the New York river valley, and parts of Europe. I carefully planned to play this game in historical order after I finished AC 4 pertaining to the Golden Age of Piracy (1720s), and prior to AC 3 pertaining to the American Revolution (1770-1780s). The backdrop of the game is set during the Seven Years War, primarily the American theater known as the French and Indian War. Before I played this game I was not aware that the French and Indian War was a theater of a great global war being fought in Europe (in the likes of the Pacific theater during WWII).
Some of the first interactions between European explorers and Native Americans occurred in Florida in the early 1500s. The Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon attempted to establish a Spanish colony in southern Florida however was fiercely resisted by a native american people known as the Calusa. Throughout the mid 1500s the British led various failed expeditions seeking a northwest passage, as well as failed colonial attempts in Roanake and Newfoundland (once again due to poor relations with the indigenous tribes). It was not until the establishment of Jamestown that the British were able to develop a solid settlement in North America. From here they were able to consolidate their control and expand further along the eastern coast.
One of the most notable military stands by the Native Americans during the colonial age was during King Philip's War from 1675 to 1678. This engagement was led by the leader of the Wampanogas, Metacomet (known as King Philip). He was able to unite many ingenious tribes in the New England territory and waged war on the British colony of Massachusetts. These tribes conducted many raiding parties throughout British settlements in Massachusetts bringing about the fury of the militia. The Massachusetts militia organized to become the New England Confederation one of the largest colonial armies in the nation. By 1676 Metacomet was killed in battle, which brought an end to the fighting in Massachusetts, while the ingenious tribes were able to sustain control of Maine.
This first military engagement in America, between the French and the British was more so a stand-off of territory. With both sides fully engaged in Europe, they hardly put much attention to supplying their forces in America. Yet nonetheless the tension had reach a boiling point due to broken relations with the Indians following King Philip's War of 1675-1678. The English began to fear that the Indians had established an alliance with the French which ruined diplomacy between the two European powers. By 1688 both sides began military raids and engagements in the New England and Acadia region.
In 1702 another conflict in Europe broke out known as the War of Spanish Succession. This quickly grew into another multi-faceted war, and was yet another proxy war between the two great powers of France and Britain. The general issue was regarding the succession of the Spanish monarchy between the house of Bourbon and the house of Habsburg. Austria was also a key player in this engagement and with the alliance of Britain and the Netherlands they were able to repel France's power grab. However the conflict spilled back over to North America reigniting the tension between the French and British colonies.
In 1740 the War of the Austrian Succession once again pinned European nations against one another in a multi-faceted conflict. Once again the French sought to shift the balance of power in Europe and established an alliance with Spain and Prussia. Meanwhile the British and the Dutch supported the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy. The conflict ultimately marked the downfall of the Austrian Kingdom and the rise of Kingdom of Prussia. However once again it also served as a proxy war between the two major powers of Europe, France and England, and the conflict was once again carried over to America.
However the game does not delve too deeply into the European conflict pertaining to Prussia and the War of Austrian Succession. Rather it focuses on the subject I am much more familiar with, the theater of the French and Indian War set in the North American colonies. I therefore will not be posting about the European theater of the Seven Years War and perhaps will save that for another time. So for starters I would like to set the backdrop of this historical clash between the French and the British. It was ultimately for the control of America that essentially brought about the demise of the Native Americans.
Native American Eradication
It is generally believed that the Native Americans had settled in pre-historic America approximately 20,000 years ago. It is most likely that they traveled across the Bering Sea from the northern regions of Russia to present day Alaska. During these ancient years, the Native migrations spread further inland throughout present day Canada, North America, and South America. Thus by the time the Europeans finally discovered America in 1492 the Native Americans had already established strong civilizations along the eastern Atlantic coasts.
Some of the first interactions between European explorers and Native Americans occurred in Florida in the early 1500s. The Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon attempted to establish a Spanish colony in southern Florida however was fiercely resisted by a native american people known as the Calusa. Throughout the mid 1500s the British led various failed expeditions seeking a northwest passage, as well as failed colonial attempts in Roanake and Newfoundland (once again due to poor relations with the indigenous tribes). It was not until the establishment of Jamestown that the British were able to develop a solid settlement in North America. From here they were able to consolidate their control and expand further along the eastern coast.
Throughout this age of colonial expansionism, the European settlers (including the British, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese) completely eradicated the local native Americans. While the Europeans initially intended to settle peacefully and diplomatically they eventually began to impose their will upon what they considered an inferior savage race. While trade was often conducted early on between the Indians and Europeans, the relations quickly grew worse as the Indians felt their lands being threatened. While they tried to resist quite valiantly, the Indians were no match for the superior European arsenal. Furthermore they did not have the medical means to endure the diseases brought upon by the Europeans. Thus the Native American lifestyle was harshly eradicated due to death by sickness, violence, and relocation.
Colonial American-Indian Wars
One of the most notable military stands by the Native Americans during the colonial age was during King Philip's War from 1675 to 1678. This engagement was led by the leader of the Wampanogas, Metacomet (known as King Philip). He was able to unite many ingenious tribes in the New England territory and waged war on the British colony of Massachusetts. These tribes conducted many raiding parties throughout British settlements in Massachusetts bringing about the fury of the militia. The Massachusetts militia organized to become the New England Confederation one of the largest colonial armies in the nation. By 1676 Metacomet was killed in battle, which brought an end to the fighting in Massachusetts, while the ingenious tribes were able to sustain control of Maine.
Other notable conflicts between the Indians and British Settlers include the Anglo-Powhatan Wars set in the famous Jamestown settlement of Virginia. This conflict waged from 1610-1646 and is perhaps most renown for the relationship between Captain John Smith and the Powhatan princess, Pocahontas. There were also various conflicts throughout the New York settlements such as the Peqout War (1636-1638), Kieft's War (1643-1645), Peach Tree War (1655), Esopus Wars (1659-1663). In the Carolina colonies there was the Tuscarora War (1711-1715) and the Yamasee War (1715-1717) and the Drummers War (1722-1725) in New Brunswick.
King William's War (1688-1697)
Throughout the 1600s the British had established a stronghold of the American colonies while the French had established a stronghold of the Canadian region. Despite ingenious hostilities the true fight for control of America was between the French and the British. And this dispute finally reached it's boiling point in 1688 with the start of the War of the Grand Alliance. While the conflict emerged in Europe between France against an alliance of European nations, there was a theater fought in America that became known as King William's War. This was essentially the first of four major military conflicts in the Americas between France and Britain, which are referred to as the French and Indian Wars. (The Indians mostly sided with the French against the British).
This first military engagement in America, between the French and the British was more so a stand-off of territory. With both sides fully engaged in Europe, they hardly put much attention to supplying their forces in America. Yet nonetheless the tension had reach a boiling point due to broken relations with the Indians following King Philip's War of 1675-1678. The English began to fear that the Indians had established an alliance with the French which ruined diplomacy between the two European powers. By 1688 both sides began military raids and engagements in the New England and Acadia region.
Following various raids and skirmishes from the Indians the British responded by invading Indian strongholds in Maine. By 1690 the Masschussettes colonial army was able to capture Maine and the region of Acadia at the Battle of Port Royal. The French however won a decisive victory at the Battle of Quebec in 1690 to sustain their control in Canada. During the Siege of Pemaquid in 1696 the French navy allied with Indian soldiers were able to consolidate their control of the Canadian region and drive out all British adversaries. By this point the Nine Years War conflict in Europe had reached it's end, and the theater in America ended without any significant territorial changes.
Queen Anne's War (1702-1713)
In 1702 another conflict in Europe broke out known as the War of Spanish Succession. This quickly grew into another multi-faceted war, and was yet another proxy war between the two great powers of France and Britain. The general issue was regarding the succession of the Spanish monarchy between the house of Bourbon and the house of Habsburg. Austria was also a key player in this engagement and with the alliance of Britain and the Netherlands they were able to repel France's power grab. However the conflict spilled back over to North America reigniting the tension between the French and British colonies.
France enlisted the help of the Spanish who had a stronghold in Florida as well as the Native Americans throughout New England, Acadia, and Newfoundland. The fighting was essentially a series of raids and skirmishes between Native Americans and militia colonists. By 1710 the British achieved a decisive victory at the Siege of Port Royal which gave them control of the region in Maine, known as Acadia. By 1713 the British ultimately achieved victory over the French and acquired new territory in Acadia, Newfoundland, and the Hudson Bay.
King George's War (1744-1748)
In 1740 the War of the Austrian Succession once again pinned European nations against one another in a multi-faceted conflict. Once again the French sought to shift the balance of power in Europe and established an alliance with Spain and Prussia. Meanwhile the British and the Dutch supported the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy. The conflict ultimately marked the downfall of the Austrian Kingdom and the rise of Kingdom of Prussia. However once again it also served as a proxy war between the two major powers of Europe, France and England, and the conflict was once again carried over to America.
The American theater of The War of Austrian Succession was known as King George's War, named after the King George II of Great Britain. The fighting and raids against British strongholds began by 1744 once again consisting of an alliance of French and native Americans. Most of the fighting took place in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Nova Scotia. However by May of 1745 the governor of Massachusetts, William Shirley was able to quell the aggression with his victory at the siege of the fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. The French and Indians also captured new territories including raids on Saratoga, New York and the fort of Massachusetts. By 1748 the conflict reached a stalemate in accordance with the end to the War of the Austrian Succession.
French and Indian War (1754-1763)
In 1756 the European conflict between France and Britain finally reached it's penultimate engagement with the Seven Years War. This essentially began from unresolved issues concerning the War of the Austrian Succession that once again established an alliance of European nations against one another. France enlisted the support of the faltering Austrian and Spanish Empire, against the more influential forces of Britain and Prussia. The basis of the fighting was Austria's desire to recapture territory that it had lost to Prussia. However ultimately the British and Prussians defeated the French-Austrian alliance. Furthermore this conflict once again carried over to the Americas and this time it reached its tipping point.
The fourth major engagement between the French and British armies began in 1754 and is subsequently known as the French and Indian War (while the other three wars are considered precursors to this event). The conflict was mostly driven by control of the fur trade within the Hudson region. By this point the British colonists heavily outnumbered the French colonists 2 million to 60,000. However the French relied on their relations with the Native Americans to help improve their odds such as the Wabanaki, Lepane, and Shawnee. The British also had Native alliances such as the Iroquois and the Cherokee.
The war began at the Battle of Jumonville Glen on May 23rd of 1754 in which the young 21 year old lieutenant George Washington warned the French to withdraw their fortifications in the British territories. The British colonists established the Fort Necessity in Pennsylvania yet were quickly defeated by French and Indian soldiers by July. These two minor engagements called upon heavy reinforcements from both the French and British kingdoms, seeking to bring an end to this tension. General Edward Braddock was put in command of the British and colonial armies yet died shortly after his defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755. However the same year the British achieved a major victory at the Battle of Fort Beausejour which led to the expulsion of the French Acadians in Maine and New Brunswick.
By 1758 while France was more focused against Prussia in the European theater, the British began an aggressive conquest campaign in the American theater. This ultimately led to the expulsion of New France from the North American region. The British achieved their decisive victory at the Battle of Quebec in 1759 which ultimately forced France to cede the Canadian territory to British control. In the 1763 Treaty of Paris, France relinquished all of it's territory between Britain and Spain. Britain acquired the Canadian territory as well as the land east of the Mississippi River. Spain acquired the land west of Mississippi known as Louisiana. France was only able to sustain the small northeastern island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
From 1755-1757 the French and Indian armies won various victories in Pennsylvania and New York. They were led by General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm and Chevalier de Levis, both of which were experienced military leaders from the War of Austrian Succession. The French thus achieved victories in 1756 at the Battle of Fort Bull and Fort Oswego located in New York. Furthermore they led a notorious siege on Fort William Henry in which their Indian allies massacred most of the British colonial soldiers. In response to these defeats and atrocities, Prime Minister William Pitt increased the British involvement in the American theater of the war.
This American conflict marked a major turning point and shift of global power. Having lost all it's colonial territory as well as the Seven Years war in Europe, France was in major decline and at the onset of it's French Revolution. The majority of Native Americans were also significantly exiled for their choice to support the French. They were forced to move further westward into the Louisiana territory. Meanwhile the British had become the new global power, with a vast empire in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. This vast territorial empire did not last long however, and quickly incurred the wrath of American Colonists who were against British "Taxation without Representation" and favored a new patriotic revolution.
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