Student Question
Compare the native relations of England and France after they solidified their colonial empires. Who had a stronger alliance and why?
Quick answer:
After solidifying their colonial empires, France had stronger alliances with Native Americans than England did. The English sought to settle and farm the land, conflicting with native concepts of land use and ownership, leading to hostilities. In contrast, the French focused on fur trading, which required minimal land alteration, fostering better relations. French men often married native women, further cementing alliances. Consequently, most Native Americans sided with the French during the French and Indian War.
In North America the relationship between the English and the French with the native people are quite different, and related to land use.
The English came to America to settle, clear land, conduct agriculture, and make the land their servant. This ideology lies in stark contrast to the attitudes of the indigenous population regarding the use of land. The idea of "owning" land was a foreign concept to the natives. This cultural clash led to hostilities amongst the two groups.
Conversely, the main economic focus of the French in America was fur trapping and trading. There was no need to tame the land or alter it in any way. While the French did have some settlements, their use of the land was in no way as radical to the natives as the English. It was not uncommon for French men to marry natives thus cementing the bonds between the two cultures.
It is not surprising, that when the French and Indian War broke out that the majority of the Native Americans aligned themselves with the French.
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