Chronology of American Indian History

Inequality among Mankind. Rousseau holds that
Indians, largely ignorant of the ways of European
civilization, live in a more “pure state of nature,”
where their innocence gives them greater happi-
ness than Europeans, corrupted by their societies,
can ever achieve. For centuries, non-Indians will
employ the stereotype of the noble savage to dimin-
ish the achievements and sophistication of Indian
societies.

May

The Cherokee become British allies.
Representatives from the colony of South Carolina
negotiate an alliance with the powerful Cherokee.
The Indians agree to become subjects of the Eng-
lish king and cede some of their territory. In return,
the English promise to build a fort in their terri-
tory to help protect the Cherokee from their French
and Creek enemies and to supply them with trade
goods at low prices. The allegiance will be short-
lived: English abuses will soon lead the Cherokee
to turn against their new allies (see entries for SUM-
MER 1760 and SUMMER 1761).

June 12

Massachusetts Bay offers bounties on
Indian scalps.
William Shirley, the captain-general of the Mas-
sachusetts Bay Colony, issues a proclamation that
offers colonists cash bounties for the scalps of Indi-
ans of French-allied tribes. The scalps of male adults
are to be rewarded with 40 pounds; those of female
adults and males under 12 are to bring the scalper
half that amount.

“Whereas the Indians... inhabit-

ing in the Eastern and Northern

Parts of His Majesty’s territories

of New-England,... [have] been

guilty of the most perfidious,

barbarous and inhuman Mur-

ders of... his Majesty’s English

Subjects; and have abstained

from all Commerce and Cor-

respondence with His Majesty’s

said Subjects for many Months

past; and the said Indians have

fully discovered an inimical, trai-

torous and rebellious intention

and Disposition;... I do hereby

require His Majesty’s subjects

of this Province to embrace

all Opportunities of pursuing,

captivating, killing and destroy-

ing all and any of the aforesaid

Indians.”

—from a poster announcing the

Massachusetts Bay Colony’s

Indian scalp bounties

July 9

A French and Indian force defeat the British

at Fort Duquesne.

English soldiers led by General Edward Braddock

and Virginia militiamen under George Washing-

ton advance on the French Fort Duquesne, on the

Allegheny River. They are ambushed by French

soldiers and Indian warriors, soundly trounced,

and forced to retreat. During the foray, the first

major battle of the French and Indian War (see

entry for JULY 4, 1754), more than 900 English-

men and Virginians, including Braddock, are

killed.

The British debacle sets the tone for the war

for the rest of the year. Eager to drive the British

from their lands, Indian raiders will effectively ha-

rass English settlements in Virginia, Pennsylvania,

and Maryland, and the French will repel attacks on

their forts at Niagara and Crown Point.

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