Final answer:
In the 1770s and 1780s, many Native American tribes sided with the British during the American Revolution, largely to protect their lands from American settlers. While neutrality existed among some tribes, others were compelled to choose sides, with most seeing the British as a lesser threat to their interests compared to the encroaching American settlers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many Native American tribes sided with the British during the American Revolution in hopes of protecting their lands from American expansion. The situation of Native Americans in the 1770s and 1780s was one marked by division and varying alliances. While some tribes, such as parts of the Iroquois Confederacy, sided with the British, others like the Oneida and Tuscarora supported the revolutionaries. In the Ohio River Valley, tribes like the Shawnee, Miami, and Mingo fought against colonial expansion and therefore supported the British. However, most Native Americans did not align with the American colonists, largely due to their view of the conflict as a potential threat to their lands and way of life.
Although the Second Continental Congress suggested the war did not concern Native Americans, the reality was that for many tribes, the American Revolution was indeed a contest for their lands. Different tribes had different responses to the Revolution based on their circumstances, relationships with colonial settlers, and historical ties with European powers.