Detroit The Early Years The British Years 1760

Detroit: The Early Years The British Years: 1760 - 1783

Detroit: 1760 -1783 I. British - Native American Relations • Detroit was turned over to the British as part of the French and Indian War in 1760, and British Traders started to arrive in the Spring of 1761. • The most immediate change was that the British were not friendly with the Native Americans, and were notoriously tough traders. • The British would no longer give ammunition to the Native Americans (for hunting) and the Natives believed that the British were trying to starve them to death.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 • The Native Americans continued to grow upset until in 1763 Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe summoned a war council. • At the war council, Pontiac planned attacks on various British forts all across the Midwest, choosing that he and the Ottawa would attack Detroit. • Pontiac and his troops entered the fort for a meeting, but the British knew of the attack and were ready and Pontiac retreated.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 • Realizing that they could no long surprise the British, Pontiac instead began attacking the farmers who lived outside of the fort. • The British sent two officers to negotiate with Pontiac, but Pontiac took them hostage and used them to negotiate, as his troops surrounded the Fort. • The stalemate lasted two months, with attacks against the Native Americans having little to no success.

Detroit: 1760 -1783

Detroit: 1760 -1783 • Other Native American tribes had captured other British Forts in the Midwest, but were unable to take Detroit. • When fall came, the other Native American tribes such as the Chippewa, and Huron settled peace treaties with the British. • After being abandoned, Pontiac made an offer for a peace treaty, and before he getting a response, he returned to his home close to modern-day Toledo.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 II. The American Revolution • Life in Detroit was peaceful between 1763 and 1775. • But once the American Colonies declared their Independence from Britain, Detroit’s fort became a base of operations for the British to lead attacks against the Americans in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Western New York. • The British feared that the Americans would counter-attack Detroit and built a stronger fort.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 Fort Detroit • The Americans never attacked Detroit, and by 1781 the Americans had won the war. • The peace treaty turning over the land to the Americans was signed in 1783.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 • But the British refused to leave. They did not want to loose the fur trade, which was still valuable. • The British claimed that the U. S. had not held up their end of the peace treaty and refused to leave the fort. • The situation lasted for over ten years, and in that time Detroit even elected two representatives to the new Canadian government. • President George Washington sent an army to take back the area from the Native Americans and the British. • The army was lead by General “Mad Anthony” Wayne.

Detroit: 1760 -1783 • After defeating the Native Americans on his way to Detroit, Wayne had no trouble negotiating a treaty with the British to finally give up Detroit in 1794. • For his efforts, Wayne county, and subsequently Wayne State University were named after Anthony Wayne.