French Contact and Downfall of Tribes in Early America Essay Example

French Contact and Downfall of Tribes in Early America Essay Example French Contact and Downfall of Tribes in Early America Essay French Contact and Downfall of Tribes in Early America Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: : French Contact and Downfall of Tribes in Early America The face of North America was changing by middle 18th century. The British colonists, officials, and soldiers were from the Atlantic towards the west to cross in the river valley in Ohio. A vast region extending from Florida along the Gulf Coast, and across the desert to the Gulf of California was occupied by the Spanish. On the other hand, the French opted to settle in New France, a location today referred to as Canada. The changes experienced in North America posed major impact to the Native Americans. Expansion by the Europeans led to the displacement of many indigenous tribes with their diseases decimating many people. In particular, the French expressed the best relationship with Native Americans. Nevertheless, their contact eventually led to the downfall of Indian tribes in early American history. However, it is prudent to note that the arrival of firearms and trade relations gave some tribes power, influence, and an opportunity to expand their territories. Both Europeans and some tribes seized the opportunity that came with shifting alliances between and within factions with a view of gaining prestige, expand territory, and settle disputes. In the early 16th century, the Europeans considered native Americans a hindrance to their advancement. By the 17 century, there was a new collection of rivals and allies rose as the existing tensions between Native American tribes and European political battles. One kind of alliance that came between Huron Indians and the French, and this alliance pitted them against the Iroquois Indians and the English (Phelps, 24). The relationship between the French and the Indians dates back to the early 16th century when French trading in fur cultivated good relations between them and the Indians and the Quebec settlers. In this case, the Huron Indians were in need of help to overcome rival Iroquois Indian tribe located in today’s upper New York, a need the French obliged to satisfy. Meanwhile, the British were busy developing trade relations with the Iroquois Indians. According Phelps (31), the consequence of this relationship led to the Iroquois Indians aligning themselves as the extensions of the British. On the other hand, the Huron Indians became fundamental pawns of the French. Tensions were high and the British engaged in warfare with a view of seizing colonial domination of North America. This war is referred to as the French Indian War. France and England had been conflict since the early 17th century. Even though the British eventually won the war, the success came at a hefty price (Anderson, 48). They had incurred a huge debt for war resources that almost led to the destruction of their government. The huge debt left the British with one choice; to alter how it related with its colonies. This ultimately affected the British-colony relations socially, politically, and economically. To take care of its debts, the British decided to impose high taxes on all colonies and none was exempt, including the Iroquois Indians. The French-Indian war led to devastating and long lasting effects for the American Native tribes. The British sought vengeance against all Native Americans that fought in support of the French including the Huron Indians. They did this by cutting off supplies and the instigated mandatory rules that all natives had to follow. With the French now absent, British was the supreme power in North America. The effect of this outcome indeed affected both tribes of Indians, the Iroquois and the Huron. Both and the rest of the native tribes now had to deal with stringent laws and high taxes such as the â€Å"Stamp Act† and â€Å"Sugar Act† (Winsor, 57). With a new power in force in North America, the downfall of many native tribes was imminent. Hefty taxes meant that livelihood was made tough for the Indians. The British were in control of all resources including agricultural products. Stringent rules on cultivation and high taxes meant little income and diet and thus poor health for the Indians. Even though the Indians and the other native tribes were against this new rule, they lacked the strength and resources to stage a revolt. Eventually, the Indians suffered huge casualties. Even though the Indians had gained significant experience in using firearms and military tactics, they chaffed from how they were treated by the British rule (Phelps, 75). Furthermore, the gradual relations with the British led the Indians to assimilating the British culture, and compromising their own in the process. Slowly but surely, the Indians were heading towards downfall. In conclusion, the French contact with the Indians indeed led to the downfall of the Indians as well as the rest of the natives in North America. The French relations with the Indians had a major role to play with their downfall. Competition for control over North America led to the imminent war between the British and the French. The end justified the means with the British emerging victories since they had invested more. However, large debts consequently led to the imposition of high taxes and stringent rules. The Indians and other native tribes were affected adversely. It led to their downfall. Anderson, Fred. The War That Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War. New York: Viking, 2005. Print. Pederson, Charles E. The French Indian War. Edina, Minn: ABDO, 2010. Print. Phelps, Dawson A. â€Å"The Indians, the English, and the French 1699-1744.† Tennessee Historical Quarterly. (2007). Print. Winsor, Justin. â€Å"The Struggle for the Great Valleys of North America.† Narrative and Critical History of America. 5 (2004): 483-622. Print.