The British and French signed a treaty in 1763 that ended the French and Indian War (also called the Seven Years' War) in North America. As the victors, the British claimed all of Canada and the present-day Midwest, including Wisconsin. The British had little time to enjoy their new empire, for within a few months of signing the treaty, Indian resistance threatened to strip them of their lands. An Ottawa chief from Detroit named Pontiac led the uprising, which attracted many tribes throughout the Midwest and Canada.
For a long time, historians believed that French residents of Quebec had provoked the Indians into rising up against the British. More recent studies assert that the resident French had little if any role to play in the uprising. Instead, Pontiac and other tribal leaders hoped that by rising up, they could lure the French army back to North America. Moreover, Indian people did not like the British because--unlike the French--they distributed very few gifts and presents. In Indian cultures, giving gifts symbolized friendship, and the French used gifts extensively to cement strong alliances with Indian communities. The British were initially reluctant to give the Indians generous presents, and this made Indian people reluctant to deal with the British and live under British rule.
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