Originally the Anishanaabeg in Michigan were a col-lection
of closely related tribes: Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi. Their alliances were established
when they reached the area of Michlimackinac on their journey westward from the
northeastern Atlantic coast. The Midewiwin scrolls revealed that the formation
of the Council of Three Fires was dated back to 796 AD at Michilimackinac. The
Ojibwe were addressed as the Older Brother, the Odawa as the Middle Brother,
and the Potawatomi as the Younger Brother. The Ojibwa were referred to as the
keepers of the faith, the Odawa were the keepers of trade, and the Potawatomi were
the designated keepers of the fire. Their alliances were established when they
reached the area of Michlimackinac which is currently referred to as Mackinac
City, Michigan, on their journey westward from the northeastern Atlantic coast.
The Three
Fires Council had several meeting places. Michilimackinac became the preferred
meeting place due to its central location. The Council met for military and
political purposes. Through the totem system based on the clan structure and
promotion of trade, the Council generally had a peaceful existence with its
neighbors.
During the
1750s, France expanded its territorial claims into the Ohio River Valley, which
further instilled animosity between France and Britain. In 1754 and 1755 the
French defeated the young George Washington, General Edward Braddock, and
Braddock’s successor, Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts. The British
military efforts were thwarted by a lack of interest at the home front,
opposition among the American colonies, and France’s success with gaining more
support from Indian allies. In 1756 the British formally declared war against
the French beginning the Seven Years’ War or better known as the French and
Indian War. The new British commander in America, Lord Loudoun, was confronted
with the same issues as his predecessors. He met with the same defeat against
the French and their Indian allies.
Circumstances
changed drastically in 1757 due to William Pitt’s vision, his vision of
expanding the British Empire. Pitt served as the Secretary of State of Foreign
Affairs for Britain during the time of the French and Indian War. The colonial
conflicts provided the tools to accomplish this goal. To fund this venture Pitt
borrowed heavily and offered reimbursement to the colonies to acquire troops in
North America. He also paid Prussia to fight in Europe for the British. In 1758,
the British won their first great triumph at Louisbourg near the mouth of the
St. Lawrence River.
The
British conquered the French at Fort Frontenac at the western end of the St.
Lawrence River. The French lost command over the Plains of Abraham in 1759
which resulted in the fall of Montreal in 1760. The French lost their foothold
in Canada. Spain joined France against England. Britain increased its efforts to
seize more of the French and Spanish territories in other parts of the world.[i]
In March
of 1762 the King of France, King Louis XV, ordered a formal request for peace
talks with the British government. The British government was also interested
in stopping the war. The war was extremely expensive and was financed by accumulated
debt. The creditors financing the British military efforts were wondering if
Britain could pay off its loans. Also British King George II died and his
successor George III was interested in ending the war. The peace talks between France
and Britain resulted in the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In the terms of the
treaty, France turned over all its territories in mainland North America which
ended the military threats to the British colonies.[ii]
Dissention
continued to occur between the Anglo-American colonists and the British
Government because of conflicting interests. The British were tired of
providing a military presence to manage the post-treaty policies which were
supposed to address the interests of the Indian people and the colonists. An
argument transpired about the levying of taxes to pay for debts concerning
wartime expenses. The Treaty of Paris resulted in the colonists moving towards
independence even under the tyranny of a stalwart British Empire.
This excerpt is taken from my book "Shadow Travelers"
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