Category: Reflections On the Past

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.

Jared Chomyc

Document Analysis

History 1120

Dr. Tracy Penny Light

October 19^th 2016

In the aftermath of the Seven Years War, the British released the Royal Proclamation on October 7, 1763. This proclamation was released in The London Gazette and it laid out a set of rules and regulations that the governments of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada would have to follow. As a result of the time it was written, the language and grammar are very different than in a contemporary context. The time period also expresses certain racial prejudices and an idea of an all-powerful Monarch and “the Members of Our Council”[1]. The documents main focus was to give a set of rules for their colonies, they did this in four ways. First of all they wanted to clearly outline the borders of their governments. By doing this the people would accept British rules of border and country. The second item was to outline how much land would be distributed to the different officers of the British Army.  Lastly, they wanted to determine what land the indigenous people were entitled to and regulate how the buying and selling of native land was achieved. So in order to understand this document fully it is important to first look at how the British government chose to outline their borders, and the effect that would have on the people of Canada.

It must be understood that this is a foreign government setting boundaries upon a people who in some cases have never been to Britain and who owe no allegiance to the country. So it is understandable to see how Canadians and the indigenous people would have been upset about the idea of having their boundaries and land made up by the British Monarchy and its counsel. The Proclamation states in detail as to where the beginning of one country starts and where the others end. It states that the government of Quebec is “bounded on the Labrador Coast by the River St John, and from thence by a Line drawn from the Head of that River through the Lake St. John to the South End of the Lake Nipissim”[2]. Using precise detail the British government controlled every aspect of people’s lives in the Canada. In essence they are telling both the indigenous people and the rest of the country where their borders are instead of letting them keep the borders they established on their own. It is mentioned several times that the British are making these decisions with the help of their “Privy Council”[3] as opposed to discussing the matters of borders with the people of Quebec and the other governments. Not only does this document insist upon the borders of these countries, but it also states that the Monarchy is in control of the land. The document says “Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, as are now or hereafter shall be in Our Power to dispose of”[4]. Therefore, Britain is taking the land from its rightful owners and distributing it amongst who they wish. This is further evidenced when looking at the land that is granted to the soldiers who were on the side of the British.

In regards to the soldiers of the Seven Years War the Proclamation states that they will grant land “to such Reduced Officers as have served in North America during the late War”[5]. What this document does not state is the effect that this would have on the people of this country. It is easy to read between the lines of this document and assume that the land will be taken from those who were defeated by the British. The sad reality of this is that in many cases this may mean the stripping away of many people’s homes and livelihoods. Therefore, due to the time in which they lived in the people were forced into the subjugation of the British. With it being an official government document it does go into great detail as to how much each rank of soldier would receive. It states that a Field Officer is entitled to “5,000 Acres”[6] and every Captain is entitled to “3000 Acres”[7] and so on. The indigenous people are the last people to be mentioned and effected in this Proclamation.

Although the document appears to appeal positively to the native people of Canada nothing could be further from the truth. While the document does state that the natives “should not be molested or disturbed in the Possession of such Parts of Our Dominions and Territories”[8] which in essence allows the natives some land outside the borders of Quebec, West Florida, East Florida, and Grenada. It does not however, take into account that indigenous people may have lived in these areas before the war. The document goes on to say that “if at any Time any of the said Indians should be inclined to dispose of the said Lands, the same shall be purchased only for Us”[9]. This declaration means that if at any point the indigenous people choose to sell their land they must do so in accordance to the rules and regulations of the British government. As a result of this it would be very hard for an indigenous person to bargain or even discuss the sale of his property without the aforementioned permission of the British.

In conclusion, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 was an act that was intent on giving the people of Canada a set of rules and guidelines to follow. The problem with this was that in many cases the varied people of Canada had no need or want for the types of laws and restrictions that this document promised. Although in some ways the Proclamation may have set out to help the people of Canada it ended up having the opposite effect. The indigenous people did not go unmolested and the people that benefited the most from the document were people on the winning side of the war. It strictly regulated borders and which part of that said land went to whom. The reasons for this could be that the King and his council have no experience with the land and its people. Therefore any document governing them would not have a positive effect.  However noble the goals and purpose of this document may seem, in the end it failed its main goal. It would not be long before the people of Canada would want to force a change in the way they were living.

Bibliography

George R, “A Proclamation,” The London Gazette, October 7, 1763.

[1]  George R, “A Proclamation,” The London Gazette, October 7, 1763, 1.

[2] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[3] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[4] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[5] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[6] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[7] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[8] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.

[9] R, “A Proclamation,” 1.