Traditional histories fail to fully explain the role Indians played in the Seven Years War. Falsely portraying the numerous Indians that allied with either the British or French forces as mere \u201cbodies,\u201d they ignore the impact the natives had on the outcome of the war. Taylor on the other hand, does a great job of expounding upon the Indian tribes\u2019 critical role in Chapter 18: Imperial Wars and Crisis.<\/p>\n
Referencing an observation an English trader made in 1755, Taylor notes that \u201cIndians determined the military balance of power within North America.\u201d He explains that their strategic location between the British and French colonies, combined with their guerilla method of fighting, made them an important asset to both the British and the French in the North American theater of the Seven Years War (424). While the French ultimately had more Indian allies because they treated them better, the British were able to gain some Indian support. As the author of \u201cBritain\u2019s Rise to Power\u201d mentions, the British had an advantage in trade; they were able to trade mass quantities of goods to the Indians that were both superior to and cheaper than French goods. This not only prompted some Indians to ally with the British, but it also made Indian allegiance with the French weaker (428). Native assistance would ultimately prove invaluable to the British cause.<\/p>\n
Initially, the British failed to utilize their Indian allies appropriately. When British general Edward Braddock marched on Fort Duquesne \u2013 a French fort located in what is now modern-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania \u2013 only eight Indians accompanied his army of 2,200 men. The British would suffer nearly a thousand casualties and wounded men. Taylor astutely argues that \u201cno expedition through the forest could prosper without significant Indian support and without heeding Indian expertise\u201d (429). However, the next British attack on Fort Duquesne would be much more successful. Deploying new \u201cranger units\u201d that consisted of colonists who used Indian tactics and British infantrymen equipped with rifles and tomahawks, the British, under the command of William Pitt, forced the French to abandon and destroy Fort Duquesne. The British would consequently build a much larger fort known as Fort Pitt (431). While this is only one example, the British attacks on Fort Duquesne display the critical role the Indians played during the Seven Years War. Without native assistance, it is possible that the British could have lost the war.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u2019s thorough history of the Seven Years War reveals an Indian population far more influential to the development of Colonial America than most history texts impart. I enjoyed reading about the economic forces that factored into many British-Indian alliances and thought his unique narrative of the war was captivating. In addition, he does a great job setting the stage for the American Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Traditional histories fail to fully explain the role Indians played in the Seven Years War. Falsely portraying the numerous Indians that allied with either the British or French forces as mere \u201cbodies,\u201d they ignore the impact the natives had on the outcome of the war. Taylor on the other hand, does a great job of … <\/p>\n