<P> After the American Revolutionary War broke out between the British and the colonists, the Seneca at first attempted to remain neutral but both sides tried to bring them into the action . When the rebel colonists defeated the British at Fort Stanwix, they killed many Seneca onlookers . </P> <P> The Seneca Tribe before the American Revolution had a prosperous society . The Iroquois Confederacy had ended the fighting amongst the war - based Iroquois tribes and allowed them to live in peace with each other . Yet, despite this peace amongst themselves, the Iroquois tribes were all revered as fierce warriors and were reputed to control together a large empire that stretched hundreds of miles along the Appalachian Mountains . The Seneca were a part of this confederacy with the Cayuga, Onondagas, Oneidas, Mohawks, and, later on, the Tuscaroras . However, although the Seneca and Iroquois tribes had ceased fighting each other, they still continued to conduct raids on outsiders, or rather their European visitors . </P> <P> Despite the Iroquois continuing raids on their new European neighbors, the Iroquois tribes struck up profitable relationships with the Europeans, especially the English . In 1677, the English were able to make an alliance with the Iroquois league called the "Covenant Chain". In 1768, the English renewed this alliance when Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet signed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768 . This treaty put the British in good favor with the Iroquois, as they felt that the British had their best interests in mind as well . The Americans, unlike the British, were disliked by the Seneca because of their continual disregard for the Treaty of Fort Stanwix . Specifically, the Iroquois were enraged by the Americans movement into the Ohio Territory . However, despite their continual encroachment on established Iroquois land, the Americans respected their skills at warfare and attempted to exclude from their conflict with the British . The Americans viewed their conflict with the British as a conflict meant to include only them . The Albany Council occurred in August, and the Iroquois Confederacy debated about the Revolution from August 25 to August 31 . The non-Iroquois present at the council consisted of important figures like Philip Schuyler, Oliver Wolcott, Turbutt Francis, Volkert Douw, Samuel Kirkland, and James Dean . The Iroquois at the council were representatives from all the tribes, but the Mohawk, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras had the most representatives . The Iroquois agreed with the Americans and decided at their Albany Council that they should remain as spectators to the conflict . A Mohawk Chief named Little Abraham declared that "the determination of the Six Nations not to take any part; but as it is a family affair, to sit still and see you fight it out". Thus, the Iroquois chose to remain neutral for the time being . They felt it would be best to stand aside while the Colonists and the British battled . They did not wish to get caught up in this supposed "family quarrel between (them) and Old England". </P> <P> Despite this neutrality, the anti-Native American rhetoric of the Americans pushed the Iroquois over to the side of the British . The Americans put forth an extremely racist and divisive message . They viewed the Iroquois and other Native Americans as savages and lesser people . An example of this rhetoric came on this quote from Raphael: "the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions ." As a result of this terrible rhetoric, many Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Seneca prepared to join the British . However, many Oneida and Tuscarora were able to be swayed by an American missionary, Samuel Kirkland . The Iroquois nation began to divide as the Revolution continued and, as a result, they extinguished the council fire that united the six Iroquois nations, therefore ending the Iroquois Confederacy . The Iroquois ended their political unity during the most turbulent time in their history . Two powers in the midst of battle pulled them apart to gain their skill as warriors . This divided the Iroquois and the tribes chose sides based on preference . </P>

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