At the end of the Seven Years’ War, the British had defeated the French. What did that mean for the First Nations who had fought alongside the French and the British to protect their own interests and ensure their survival?

TRADE

Trade between First Nations and the French came to an end after the war. The British limited First Nations’ access to European goods, such as weapons, tools, and clothing. They also stopped paying established prices for First Nations goods.

NEW CONFLICTS

First Nations viewed the movement of more and more British officials, soldiers, and settlers into their territories as a threat to their way of life. So, after the war, several First Nations Tribes under the leadership of Chief Pontiac, secretly met to makes plans to continue to fight against the British. In May and June 1763, several First Nations tribes joined together and led successful attacks on eight British-held posts around Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

The French refused to join the First Nations Tribes in their fights against the British. The French had already suffered many losses to the British and had accepted the terms of surrender. As the violent raids and ambushes went on, many of Chief Pontiac’s allies began to abandon him. Chief Pontiac was losing the upper hand. However, the British realized that they must find a way to make peace with the First Nations tribes to prevent further violence.

A Quote from Chief Pontiac from May 5, 1763

CREATION OF A ROYAL PROCLAMATION

The British delivered a Royal Proclamation in 1763, outlining new rules for all the people who were living in North America. This proclamation, or official statement, announced that the British were taking over the government of Québec. It also clearly reserved land for First Nations and promised hunting and fishing rights.

In the 50 years following the Royal Proclamation, the British government and various First Nations entered into a number of treaties to maintain peace as more and more British settlers moved onto the land.

The Seven Years’ War still stirs strong emotions in Québec, even 250 years later. In Québec, the Seven Years’ War is seen as a hostile takeover of the French by Britain.

The French proposed specific conditions of their surrender in a document called Articles of Capitulation, which they presented to the British. These conditions were intended to protect the future of all residents of New France, including the Canadiens, Acadians, and First Nations.

However, with the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the British government began to assert its power over the French by creating new rules for them to live by. This meant that new British laws replaced French laws.

Also, the British planned to move a great number of British settlers into the area to outnumber the French and make them fit into, or assimilate to, the British way of life. Many of the wealthy and educated French people decided to leave for other areas, which left openings for the British to take over businesses, industries, and the fur trade.

The Quebec Act of 1774