Indian Diplomacy and the European Invasion

1. Indian Diplomacy and the European Invasion Impact of European Disease Indian Diplomacy An Example of Diplomacy

2. Impact of Europeans Disease • Europeans brought many diseases with them that Indians did not have immunity to • Indians never developed immune because of isolation • Diseases weaken Indian ability to provide a strong defense and deaths open well carried for land for Europeans

3. Impact of Europeans Disease • Jamestown colonists baffled that Indian villages disappear • Indians that Columbus meet on Hispainola are literally wiped out by 1650 • 1633, estimated that 10,000 Pequot Indians die because of smallpox

4. Indian Diplomacy • Indians will use Europeans as allies against their enemies • In 1637, English and the Pequot Indians are involved in all out war. • Both sides are brutal and murderous. • Indian allies of English play a critical role in the demise of the Pequot Indians.

5. Indian Diplomacy • Indians will pit the European powers against each other by entering into treaties with both powers • Europeans realized that Iroquois are a powerful nation

6. An Example of Indian Diplomacy • In 1701, the Iroquois enter in a treaty with France and England • They promise the French not to side with the English • They promise the English land past the Appalachians Mts. and to be their allies

7. An Example of Indian Diplomacy • These treaties allowed the Iroquois to become successful in the fur trade and increase their population by absorbing lesser tribes • Become so successful that Iroquois actual control fur trade and trade routes

8. An Example of Indian Diplomacy • During the Seven Year’s War , 1756-1763, it is the English who seek to woo the Iroquois to pick a side • The Iroquois do not commit to a side until it is clear that the English will win • Other Indians side with the French and will come out losing because the French lose the war

9. An Example of Indian Diplomacy • After the Seven Year’s War, English policy will be to avoid confrontation with Indian nations over land(not enforceable) • Indian nations also became dependent on trade with only the English

10. An Example of Indian Diplomacy • Reasons for weakening of Iroquois nation • One European nation rules North America • Dependency on English trade • Colonist continue to move into Indian lands