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AMERICAN REVOLUTION: 1775-83

Full scale war broke out in 1775 between the colonists and British forces. On July 4, 1776, the "Second Continental Congress" of the American colonies, held in Philadelphia, accepted the American "Declaration of Independence." France, Spain, and Holland, all old enemies of Great Britain, declared war and joined in the battle on the side of the Americans.

The following is yet another example of the paranoia the English held about the former Mi'kmaq/French relationship. In future years they would try to copy the approach the French had used to create good relationships with First Nations, but, with them, the element of sincerity was always missing. Cornelius J Jaenen states:

The American alliance presented many difficulties for the French, particularly in their
relationship with the Native people. The position adopted by the English colonists
of the United States was not substantially altered by the revolution, but the
British in Canada found it necessary to adopt many aspects of the traditional French
policy towards the Native people.

Adding to English fears were the many American and French attempts to stir up rebellion among the French Canadiens. These efforts failed because the French Canadiens were, like France's former Amerindian allies, unwilling to take up arms on behalf of a country that had proven itself unreliable as an ally. They too had been abandoned once too often to again risk English retribution.

Because of Citizen Genet's efforts to arouse the French Canadiens to rebellion, it was
feared that his agents might also be at work among the Micmac, exploiting their
economic and social conditions to French advantage... Lieutenant Governor
Sir John Wentworth thought it essential to pacify them with gifts of food and clothing so "that
the peace of our scattered Inhabitants may not be disturbed by them, and also
that they will join us in case of an invasion."

The Mi'kmaq by this time had been deprived of their lands and living in a state of poverty, which made subversion an attractive possibility. However, as previously mentioned, the English really had no grounds for fear, because the Mi'kmaq had no desire, or means, to involve themselves again in White wars. If the die-hard faithful still believe that the Great Britain of that era was awash in democratic practices these quotes from Wentworth should set them straight:

Wentworth thought it necessary to warn all to watch out for "Democratic French
Practices among these Savages." The British government also allocated funds for
financial relief of the Micmacs, when Wentworth described some unusual activity
among them at Windsor, "during the expectation of a Descent."

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