Final answer:
Native American tribes during the American Revolutionary War aligned in complex ways, with some, like the Iroquois Confederacy, declaring neutrality, while others sided with the British or Americans, often leading to internal divisions. The post-war era saw Native American defeat and the formation of the Western Confederacy to resist American expansion. Lasting alliances were also established between European colonists and Native American confederacies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alignment of Native Americans in the "Duel for North America"
During the American Revolutionary War, Native American tribes took varying stances, which significantly impacted the alliances formed in North America. Despite a preference for neutrality by colonizers and the British, many Native American tribes chose sides, often leading to internal divisions within the tribes themselves. The Iroquois Confederacy declared neutrality, but not all members agreed, resulting in some tribes aligning with the British. In the South, most tribes, except for the Catawba of North Carolina, fought alongside the British. The Cherokee, divided by age and perspective, similarly faced internal conflict, with younger members actively opposing American colonials. Post-war, the United States ignored Native American land claims, spurring the formation of the Western Confederacy under Mohawk leader Joseph Brant, leading to the Northwest Indian War and ultimately, Native American defeat.
Throughout the war and afterward, the establishment of lasting alliances between colonists and native confederacies shaped the political landscape. The Iroquois sided with the British while the Wabanaki Confederacy allied with the French. These alliances mirrored pre-existing regional conflicts intensified by European colonial presence and the fur trade. The disputes extended into economic spheres, particularly over control of the Hudson Bay and the Hudson's Bay Company trading posts. In the West, conflicts arose between various Native American tribes and American settlers, leading to the formation of another alliance, the Miami Confederacy or the Northwest Confederacy, which included multiple Native American nations uniting against American western expansion.