The Effect of the Seven Years' War on the Cherokee Nation

Abstract

The Cherokees were a markedly divided people during much of the eighteenth century. Though loosely bound by ties of kinship, cultural commonality, and political association, well-entrenched town and regional loyalties often presented a considerable challenge to Cherokee unity. Scholars have long recognized the fractured nature of Cherokee society and focused much of their attention on gender roles, generational gaps, and political factionalism. Paradoxically, though these studies typically identify town and region in their opening pages as geographic reference points and a source of discord, they then proceed to discuss the Cherokees as a singular entity. Thus, despite the influential works of such authors as Tom Hatley, Theda Perdue, and William McLoughlin, there are areas of Cherokee culture and history in need of further development. One of these is the importance of town and region to Cherokee identity, group allegiance, and sense of community. This paper accordingly highlights the diversity of Cherokee populations in the mid-eighteenth century, with a particular emphasis on regionalism. It then demonstrates how the Seven Years' War marked a turning point in Cherokee history, as mountain villagers confronted a powerful adversary that demanded a more unified response. Indeed, multiple British and American invasions produced a level of dislocation and cross-regional resistance rarely found in earlier conflicts with neighboring indigenous peoples. Although the Anglo-Cherokee War (1759–61) did not erase localized identities, it did foster a stronger ethnic consciousness and commitment among Cherokees by creating a legacy of shared experiences that effectively crossed town and regional boundaries.