Pontiac's Rebellion
Pontiac's Rebellion, also known as Pontiac's Conspiracy, was a three-year revolt by Native Americans against British rule. It is named after one of its major leaders, Chief Pontiac, and was underway from 1763 to 1766.Beginnings
This war came as the result of English policies towards the Native Americans. The French, who had a better relationship with them, traded and supplied Native Americans with free ammunition. This all changed at the end of the French and Indian War, from which the British emerged victorious. They ended the supply of free ammunition and began the construction of white settlements and forts in their terrority. They treated the natives with disdain and arrogance.
The result of this was a "war council" held in April 1763 near present-day Detroit. The council ended with a plan to attack nearby Fort Detroit. The plan was for Pontiac to call for a meeting with the British and then ambush them when they opened up the fort. Forewarned, the British were able to repulse the effort. Pontiac stormed the fort in May and held it until the British relief arrived. He continued to lay siege until the end of the year. He withdrew after failing to gain French support. Further efforts were made to capture Fort Pitt in the south. These failed, but many other British outposts were destroyed and British forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Bloody Run.
The End
In 1764, British forces launched a two-pronged offensive. One went into the Ohio area and the other into the Great Lakes Region. This offensive brought about the end of the war as the Native forces without resupply of ammunition had no way to fight on. The result was a treaty forcing natives to return all captives. Pontiac, failing to rally support from southern or western tribes, surrendered in 1766.
Aftermath
This war worsened Britain's financial health and resulted in the Proclamation of 1763, preventing the colonists from moving westward.
External Links
