<P> The Southeast interior was dominated by Siouan - speaking Catawbas, Muskogee - speaking Creeks and Choctaw, and the Iroquoian - speaking Cherokee tribes . When war broke out, the French colonists used their trading connections to recruit fighters from tribes in western portions of the Great Lakes region, which was not directly subject to the conflict between the French and British; these included the Hurons, Mississaugs, Ojibwas, Winnebagos, and Potawatomi . The British colonists were supported in the war by the Iroquois Six Nations and also by the Cherokees, until differences sparked the Anglo - Cherokee War in 1758 . In 1758, the Pennsylvania government successfully negotiated the Treaty of Easton in which a number of tribes in the Ohio Country promised neutrality in exchange for land concessions and other considerations . Most of the other northern tribes sided with the French, their primary trading partner and supplier of arms . The Creeks and Cherokees were subject to diplomatic efforts by both the French and British to gain either their support or neutrality in the conflict . </P> <P> By this time, Spain claimed only the province of Florida in eastern North America; it controlled Cuba and other territories in the West Indies that became military objectives in the Seven Years' War . Florida's European population was a few hundred, concentrated in St. Augustine and Pensacola . </P> <P> At the start of the war, no French regular army troops were stationed in North America, and few British troops . New France was defended by about 3,000 troupes de la marine, companies of colonial regulars (some of whom had significant woodland combat experience). The colonial government recruited militia support when needed . Most British colonies mustered local militia companies to deal with Indian threats, generally ill trained and available only for short periods, but they did not have any standing forces . Virginia, by contrast, had a large frontier with several companies of British regulars . </P> <P> The colonial governments were used to operating independently of one another and of the government in London, a situation that complicated negotiations with Indian tribes, whose territories often encompassed land claimed by multiple colonies . After the war began, the leaders of the British Army establishment tried to impose constraints and demands on the colonial administrations . </P>

Where does the french and indian war take place