North American Relations 1600s

The time period between the 1600s and 1700s was a time of major change for the natives of North America. The incursion and colonization of Europeans into North America had considerable impacts on Native American lives. Suddenly, North American natives found themselves entangled by European power politics. European empires at the time, such as the French, English and Spanish empires, often fought against each other for power and control. The arrival of Europeans into the North American continent meant new political relationships for both the Europeans and the Native Americans. Both sides had something to gain out the relationship such as military alliances and new trade goods. European power politics and rivalries were a major factor in the
The French and Indians, also known as the Seven Years War, was a war that was fought from 1756 to 1763 with the main sides being the French against the British. Originally started as a French challenge to English expansion, the war ended in 1763 with the defeat of the French. As a part of the peace treaty, France gave up all its claims to land in North America, essentially meaning that the English now controlled the former French territories in Canada and in the Ohio River Valley. The French had been the only real major European competitor to English colonialism in North America. The Spanish had control of Florida and the south-eastern United States, but they were not as much of a threat to the English as the French had been. The English essentially no longer had a major European threat to their colonies in North America, and this had significant repercussions for white-Indian relations in North America. Prior to the expulsion of the French, various Native American tribes were able to use their importance to Europeans as a tool to engage in shrewd diplomacy that ensured that no European power would completely dominate. These tribes had been to pit Europeans against each other to maintain the balance of power in their regions. However, the French and Indian meant that Indians no longer had the ability to play off European competitors, and thus no longer white and native relations. The English simply
Native Americans were still just as dependent on the English for thing such as manufactured goods and alliances, and they still wanted to trade with the English. Chief Alibamon Ming of the Choctaw once said, "Therefore we need not be uneasy that the English Settle upon our Lands as by that means they can more easily Supply our wants". Chief Alibamon Ming's comment epitomizes the fact the Native Americans still required a relationship with Europeans for trade goods and other things. However, the English were no longer as dependent on natives. Adding to the English decreasing dependence on natives was the fact that the English experienced a huge population growth in 1750s, slightly before the French and Indian War. This meant that colonies were stronger on their own and less susceptible to attack because of the higher population. Alliances with natives were simply not as crucial as it had been before the war and the English could more easily bargain and impose their will. The power equilibrium that had existed before the war was challenged, with the English gaining more leverage after the French and Indian