Jared Chomyc

History 1120

Dr. Tracy Penny Light

02 November 2016

Research Paper Outline

       The research question I am endeavoring to answer is the different thoughts and relationships between the British, French and the Indigenous people who were involved in the Seven Years War. This is important to better understand the motivations that each side had for fighting the war and the effects that the war had on all parties involved. The primary document I chose to use is the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This document which was produced at the end of the war outlines the British bias and viewpoints towards the people of Canada, both indigenous and French. I chose to use Hamish Scott’s article “The Seven Years War and Europe’s Ancien Régime” because it helps to clarify the impact of the Seven Years war on both France and England. This article will shed more light on how the French and English felt about the Seven Years War. The second article I chose was Martin L. Nicolai’s article “A Different Kind of Courage: The French Military and the Canadian Irregular Soldier during the Seven Years’ War” because it accurately portrays the French involvement in the war and their military presence which Nicolai argues was more formidable than previously recorded. A better understanding of the French and their military prowess will help to shed more light on their thoughts and feelings during the war. The final article I chose was Elizabeth Horner’s article “Intimate Enemies: Captivity and Colonial Fear of Indians in the Mid-Eighteenth Century Wars”. This article had a dual purpose, it helped to prove the thesis of my document analysis and also show the viewpoint of Native Americans towards the Royal Proclamation. The article showed the strained relationship between the British and the Indigenous people as a result of the Seven Years War. All these sources were chosen to illustrate the relationship between the British, French, and Indigenous people during and after the time of the Seven Years War.

Bibliography

Elizabeth Hornor, “Intimate Enemies: Captivity and Colonial Fear of Indians in the Mid-Eighteenth            Century Wars,” Pennsylvania History 82 (2015): 162-185.

Hamish Scott, “The Seven Years War and Europe’s Ancien Régime,” War in History 18 (2011): 419-455.

Martin L. Nicolai, “A Different Kind of Courage: The French Military and the Canadian Irregular Soldier    during the Seven Years’ War” Canadian Historical Review 70 (1989) 53-75.

Statement of Process

  1. Originally when looking at the different suggestions for research topics, I was leaning towards the study of Scottish settlers in North America. However, upon more information and study of the Seven Years War, I decided that the topic of the relationship and viewpoints of the people involved in the Seven Years War would be a more interesting subject. I am interested to know how the people of this time period dealt with a war on this scale which lasted seven years. When looking for documents for the analysis I found the Royal Proclamation of 1763 which also helped push me in the direction of my chosen research topic.
  2. When choosing sources I wanted to be careful to find three sources which would represent the three different opinions and actions of those involved in the war. That is why I chose one that showed the impact of the war on Britain. Another that articulated the French military presence during the war, and finally a document that showed the Indigenous people’s view of the war and the Proclamation. The other benefit of the articles that I have chosen is that they span a range of about thirty years. Which helps to show how views of history have changed during this time period.
  3. At the beginning of this project I assumed that this war was very simple and orderly as was common in this time period. What I found out through my research was that this war was devastating to all parties involved. I also had the assumption that this was a strictly British/French war but as I found out in class and my research this was not the case. The most impactful idea I learned however, was the idea that every party had thoughts and feelings about what the Seven Years War did to them as a whole. These views did not necessarily match up with the laws and statements brought forth by the Royal Proclamation.
  4. I think I gained a greater appreciation for the feelings and thoughts of the people during this time period. It is easy to study History and have a sort of distance from the subject as a result of it being so long ago. However, to see that these people were reacting to this war in a very human and intelligent way helped me to have more empathy towards what they must have been going through. Unfortunately, I am still not entirely clear about how the Indigenous people felt during the war the article I found studies the aftermath and the Royal Proclamation more than it does the feelings of the indigenous people at the time of the war.
  5. As far as what I will do differently next time, I would focus more on getting the information and sources faster so I have more time to go over what they mean and how to interpret them. I would also start on the project sooner and not switch between two subjects. The confusion of switching subjects hindered my learning and progress on the topic. I would also schedule a meeting with the professor to ensure that I am on the correct path for success in the research that I am doing.