MICROBES AND MUSKETS - SMALLPOX AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AMERINDIAN ALLIES OF NEW FRANCE IN THE 7 YEARS WAR

The Amerindian allies of New France accepted annual French invitations to take part in the Seven Years' War but decided themselves how many warriors would actually appear in the field. These decisions were made in response to two smallpox epidemics that broke out during the war. The numbers of Amerindian warriors fighting alongside the French declined precipitously after outbreaks of smallpox but rose again when they had passed.