Various Tribes

[Mike Thorson]

If any of the tribe names are misspelled or I have omitted any please let me know and I can easily update it. Thanks and please feel free to participate in this forum.

[Gene]

I was reading a book that I had picked up some time ago from Mackinac Island. The book, The British Army at Mackinac,indicated that the British were very concerned about having an influence on the various tribes in the Great Lakes Region, mainly due to control of the fur trade.
What residual effect did this have on the Black Hawk War (if any)?
                     Gene

[[e-mail]]

I cannot say for certainty, but I believe that Black Hawk's decision to return to Illinois was inspired in part buy the belief that the Brittish would come to his assistance.

This also may have been a factor in the minds of the Americans. The British after the War of 1812 still retained a considerable influence over the tribes of the Great Lakes area. Though they retreated to a new post at Drummond's Island at the head of Lake Huron, they still conducted trade, and delivered presents to various tribes. Many tribes reciprocated by making regular journeys to Drummond's Island to meet with the British.

All of this stems from the War of 1812. Though many tribes felt betrayed by the British (they felt they were abandoned) they had a deep fear and dislike for Americans, most probably due to the encroaching white settlement, and the low quality of trade goods Americans offered, incontrast to the British who generally did not establish large scale settlements in the Great Lakes, and offered higher quality trade goods. Most tribes in the Great Lakes region were very aware of American desires for land. Most had known of or had taken part in the varous wars to control the Ohio River Valley years before.

Many tribes also were major participants of the War of 1812 fighting on the side of the British. This involvement began with the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Though the British were not involved in this battle, many Wisconsin tribes, including the HoChunk and (I may be wrong on this) I beleive the Menominee were. The battles outcome, and the subsequent burning of Profitstown alinenated many regional tribes against the Americans.

Following the War of 1812 the U.S. was deeply concerned over the continuing British influence. Almost every treaty negotiated in the late teens and through the 20's contained clauses requireing the signing tribes to plegdge their loyalty to the U.S. The tribes were often required to trade British flags and peace medals for American ones.  the Treaty of 1825 at Prairie du Chien, and the followup treatyies of 1826 at Fond du Lac, and 1827 at Buttes des Morts, all together a major effort from the american point of view, had a major goal of ending this continued loyalty to the British.

I guess I am digressing a bit here, but my point is that from the time immediatley following the War of 1812 up to the Black Hawk War, the Americans were very preoccupied with the continued influence the British had with local tribes in the Great Lakes area. I think it is reasonalble to assume that the idea of British involvement was on the minds of both Black Hawk and the Americans, whether it was a reality or not, is another matter.

Pete  

[Gene]

Pete:
  Good post, thanks for such a comprehensive answer.
              Gene