The Effects of the American Revolutionary War on the Iroquois Nation

The Effects of the American Revolutionary War on the Tribes of the Iroquois Nation

The Iroquois nation was a union of six different Native American tribes, located in the area of and around upstate New York. The tribes were the The Mohawk, the Oneida, the Tuscarora, the Cayuga, the Onondaga, and the Seneca. While the French were involved in the Americas, the league could survive by playing the French and British off of each other. At the end of the French and Indian War, the French were pushed out. When the Revolution came around, the Iroquois had to pick a side between the British and the Colonists. Each of the tribes of the league to picked it’s own side. However, whether the tribes of the Iroquois nation were allies of the colonists or the British, during the American Revolutionary War, did not substantially affect the aftermaths of the war for the tribes, or where the tribes are today.

Tribes of the Iroquois nation fought on both sides of the war, however only one side could win. One would expect the Colonial victors to help their allies, but this was not the case. The tribes of the Iroquois nation each which side of the war they would fight for. Most of the tribes feared the land hungry settlers, thinking they would steal their lands. The Mohawk, Cayuga, and Seneca all chose the side of the British. While the Onondaga attempted neutrality, they were still attacked by the Colonists and had to defend themselves (Encyclopedia of North American Indians). After the Colonial victory and the creation of the United States, the British had to leave, leaving these tribes at the mercy of the new country. However, this was not the case for the Oneida and Tuscarora tribes, who had fought for the United States. (“Oneida”, Tuscarora, Encyclopedia of North American Indians). Even though they had fought for America, these two tribes suffered similar fates to the those on the other side, even despite treaties trying to protect them. The 1784 treaty of fort Stanwix was meant to grant the Oneida and Tuscarora land in New York for their help (“Oneida”, Encyclopaedia of North American Indians). Federally, they should have been allowed to stay. However, New York state ignored the treaty entirely and steadily worked to push them past the borders. Neither side of the Iroquois were protected by their allies.

All of the tribes of the Iroquois nation suffered a similar and striking loss of land after the war. Those tribes who fought for the British mainly fled their ancestral homelands to avoid repercussions from the United States. Many Mohawk followed leader Joseph Brant up into Canada where they were given land near Ontario. Others settled near Montreal, and on the Six nations reserve. ( “Mohawk”, Encyclopedia of North American Indians). The Cayuga land was seized by NY state after the war. The Cayuga fled into Canada where they mostly remain (“Cayuga”, Encyclopedia of North American Indians). The Onondaga attempted neutrality, but colonists assumed that they were allies of the British, burned their homes, and forced them out (Onondaga, Encyclopedia of North American Indians). The Oneida and Tuscarora fought for the Colonists. Despite federal attempts to let them remain on their land, New York state still wanted them out. Their land was attacked and they were forced off, with the Oneida being pushed as far as Wisconsin.(“Oneida”, Tuscarora, Encyclopedia of North American Indians). Many Seneca fled to Canadian reserves while others were put on small reserves in the US. Two of these reserves