Question

document #2: thomas forsyth
lewis, jon. the mammoth book of native americans. new york: carroll & graf publishers, 2004.
“...the french being settled in villages in all parts of the country and most of the settlers of villages were composed of people who were married to indian women and followed a life similar to that of the indians themselves such as hunting, fishing & by which means the frenchman’s children were related to both parties and nothing could stir among the indian nations, but those indian women who were married to the french hunters who hear who relate it to their husbands, and from them to the commandant and so on, by which means the government had always time to prepare and frustrate many a deep design that was laid for their total ruin. the french being thus settled in villages, those who cultivated the earth, worked their land in a common field, upon a very small scale by which means there never was any misunderstanding between the whites & indians about lands. in the fall of the year the frenchman and his family and the indian and his family would paddle their canoes off together and chase out a proper place to hunt the ensuing winter. they would hunt together, eat & drink together, as much so as if they were one & the same family, if the frenchman was in want of any thing that the indian had he would assist him and the frenchman would do the same in return....” (pp. 97, 98)
thomas forsyth, english traveler

according to this document, how did the french treat the native americans?

why do you think the french treated the natives this way, what was their advantage?

how do you think relations were with native americans after the british won the french and indian war?

Explanation:

First Question: How did the French treat the Native Americans?

From the document, the French settled in villages, many married Indian women and adopted similar lifestyles (hunting, fishing). They worked land collectively, hunted/fished together with Natives, shared resources, and had mutual assistance. There was no land misunderstanding, and social/cultural integration (like family ties) was present.

The French likely aimed for stability and intelligence - gathering. By integrating (marriage, shared life), they avoided conflicts (e.g., land disputes). The Indian wives acted as informants, relaying Native plans to their husbands and then to the French commandant. This gave the French time to prepare against threats to their settlement, helping them maintain control and safety. Also, cooperation in hunting/farming ensured shared resources for survival.

After the British victory, British colonial policies differed from French. The British often sought more land for settlement, imposed their culture/laws, and had less integration. Native Americans, used to French cooperation, likely faced tension: land encroachment, cultural clashes, and broken alliances. Some Natives resisted (e.g., Pontiac's Rebellion), so relations became strained, marked by conflict over land, resources, and sovereignty.

Answer:

The French treated Native Americans with integration and cooperation: many French settlers married Indian women, adopted Native - like lifestyles (hunting, fishing), worked land collectively on a small scale (avoiding land disputes), hunted/fished together with Native families, shared meals/drinks as if part of the same family, and provided mutual assistance (helping each other when in need). Also, through inter - marriage and communication via Indian wives, the French government could get advance warnings to thwart plans against them.

Second Question: Why did the French treat the Natives this way, what was their advantage?