During the 18th Century, the British and French were engaged in the French and Indian Wars, with the British eventually laying claim to what is currently known as Canada. Due to the French loss, the increased hostility against Native Americans from the British in the Great Lakes region, and Pontiac’s influence, Pontiac served as inspiration in the fight against Native American oppression across the Great Lakes region in what surmounted into Pontiac’s Rebellion.
Pontiac 's Rebellion officially began in 1763 by a coalition of Native American tribes primarily from the Great Lakes region. Along with the Great Lakes tribes, tribes from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio assisted in the …show more content…
This conflict was between the British and the French, with both sides having Native American allies assisting in the effort against each other. During this time, the French and British were expanding their empires with the establishments of New France and the American Colonies respectfully. As each continued to grow, they continually found themselves fighting over territory, especially along the Ohio River Valley. These conflicts arising in the Ohio River Valley and the surrounding region were crucial to future conflicts as the French were more successful in terms of creating alliances with the Native American tribes located within the area. To be more specific, it was during this time that the French built the alliances with the Native American tribes that would later have Pontiac and other Native Americans believing the French would help fight off the British during Pontiac 's Rebellion. However, the French and Indian Wars resulted in the British being victorious, virtually eliminating the hope of French involvement.
At a conference in 1763, Canada was surrendered from France and claimed by the British along with Florida from Spain. This treaty was problematic as it made western expansion more obtainable, seeing as the French no longer occupied the north and the Spanish no longer occupied the south in terms of the American Colonies. With this, the British colonists only enemy was …show more content…
However according to a letter from a French officer named Monsieur de Lantagnac in 1762, there was a reason to believe that the French were still able to fight against the British. This letter reportedly claimed that the French were gathering an army in Louisiana and that they would soon be able to march north and help the fight against the British. This letter was misleading and allowed many Native Americans, including Pontiac to believe that the French would come to fight with them when the time came. In the article “Pontiac: Local Warrior or pan-Indian Leader?” the author, Dr. Richard Middleton, accounts for many Native Americans, specifically Pontiac believing the French were going to join the fight. Dr. Middleton even goes on to explain how during council meetings between tribes, other chiefs expressed to others how the French were marching north and would soon arrive to help fight. Dr. Middleton also made mention of the fact that the Seneca and French had made talks about collectively working