page_title: Franco-Indian alliance
section_title: Seven Years' War
hierarchical_section_title: Franco-Indian alliance / Seven Years' War
caption_attribution_description: English: Louis-Joseph de Montcalm trying to stop Native Americans from attacking British soldiers and civilians as they leave Fort William Henry at the Battle of Fort William Henry. Français&#160;: Montcalm essayant d'arrêter les amérindiens d'attaquer les soldats britanniques et les civils alors qu'ils quittent le fort William Henry à la bataille de Fort William Henry
context_page_description: The Franco-Indian alliance was an alliance between American indigenous nations and the French, centered on the Great Lakes and the Illinois country during the French and Indian War. The alliance involved French settlers on the one side, and the Abenaki, Ottawa, Menominee, Winnebago, Mississauga, Illinois, Sioux, Huron-Petun, Potawatomi etc. on the other. It allowed the French and the natives to form a haven in the middle-Ohio valley before the open conflict between the European powers erupted.
context_section_description: In North America in the 18th century, the British outnumbered the French 20 to 1, a situation that urged France to ally with the majority of the First Nations. According to one observer:
  All the Indian nations were called together and invited to join and assist the French to repulse the British who came to drive them out of the land they were then in possession of.
  At the beginning of the conflict, despite the disproportion of the forces involved, the French and their allies managed to inflict defeats to the British, such as the Battle of Fort Necessity or the Battle of the Monongahela. Following the capture of Fort William Henry, the Marquis de Montcalm agreed to let the British withdraw with full honours of war - a civility that was not understood by some natives who massacred the British and their camp followers on their way to Fort Edward.
  Facing major defeats in the hands of Britain's allies on the European theater of the war and with its navy unable to match the Royal Navy, France was unable to properly supply and support the Canadiens and their indigenous allies. Britain had a string of successes, especially with the Battle of Fort Niagara, and the Franco-Indian alliance started to unravel. At the same time, the British were making promises of support and protection to the natives. Finally, Quebec fell in September following the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
  At the conclusion of the Seven Years' War in 1763, New France was divided with Canada going to the British and Louisiana to the Spaniards.
caption: Montcalm trying to stop Native Americans from attacking British soldiers and civilians as they leave Fort William Henry.
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