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HIS2113_Lesson3_BritishNorthWest.pptxMichigan history
British Presence in the Northwest
British Presence and Policy in the West
How changing British policies in North America, and particularly the American West, set the stage for eventual American Independence.
Political, Economic, and Social legacies of British policies and presence in the Great Lakes region.
Waning French Influence in North America
England and France fought a series of wars during the late 1600s and early 1700s, the consequence of which influenced their oversees possessions.
The contrast between French and British motivations and policies in the New World could not be clearer by 1750:
The French claimed large amounts of land (all of Canada and lands West of the Allegheny Mountains), but only had 50,000 Frenchman occupying this area.
The British had established settler colonies along the Atlantic Coast populated by 1.5 million men, women and children.
Waning French Influence in North America
Nevertheless, French alliances with the Indians and strategically placed forts in the Great Lakes allowed them to maintain their foothold in North America.
During the Seven Years War (or French-Indian War), the French enjoyed early victories over the British but eventually lost ground.
September 1759 – war in Quebec.
Changing British Policy in North America
British Policy in North America was haphazard during the period preceding American Independence.
Lord Jeffrey Amherst
Strict Indian Policy
Sir William Johnson
Met with Great Lakes Indians at Detroit River on September 9, 1761.
Indian Unrest in the Northwest
Reaction to Amherst’s policy – “chain of friendship” with British was broken.
The Prophet: whites have brought bad fortune to Indians.
Pontiac, Ottawa chief and military leader.
Siege of Fort Detroit in 1763
Major Henry Gladwin
Indian Allies turned against him
Legacies of British Policy
Proclamation of 1763
Attempted to allay Indian unrest.
Angered British and Colonists and was largely ignored.
Michilimackinac
Major Robert Rogers
Search for Northwest Passage
Legacies of British Policy
The Quebec Act
An “Intolerable Act”
Provided a number of provisions that angered colonists on political, religious, and economic grounds.
Michigan in the American Story
Henry Hamilton, governor of Detroit
Gained Indian loyalty with rum
Paid bounties for American scalps
Fort Detroit was strategic stronghold in the North American West.
Local French and Indians eventually aligned with Americans to defeat Hamilton and take Detroit.
Michigan in the American Story
When War of Independence ended in 1783, Michigan belonged to British.
Jay Treaty of 1794, Americans finally took possession of Michigan.
