The First Nations To Recognize The United States
These are the first five nations to recognize the independence of the United States of America, chronologically:
1 — Onyota’a:ka (Oneida Nation) — A nation in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy that fought alongside the colonists during their bid for independence. They also acted as guides and scouts for the Continental Army during the war. Oneida troops famously brought food to save Washington’s troops from starving at Valley Forge. The War for the American Revolution caused a rift and a civil war in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. As Onyota’a:ka sided with the colonies, other Haudenosaunee Nations, such as Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk), sided with the British. Onyota’a:ka began to recognize the US as independent in stages from 1775 through 1777.
2 — Skarù•ręʔ (Tuscarora Nation) — Another nation in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy who lent material and personnel to the US war against Britain. Their recognition of the US began in 1775 alongside Onyota’a:ka. Skarù•ręʔ was also dragged into the Haudenosaunee civil war that raged alongside the US war of Independence. That civil war saw an end to combat in 1783, but the split persisted into a permanency that would persist for centuries. Even though the Haudenosaunee Nations would rekindle their connections with each other across that divide, that split irrevocably changed the structure of the Confederacy forever.
3 — The Sharifian Sultanate of Morocco (Al-Sultanah al-Sharifiyyah) — Recognizing US independence in 1777, sultan Mohammed III of Morocco opened ports to US ships for trade. This was purely a commercial cause for Morocco and it lead to what is currently the longest unbroken treaty in US history.
4 — The Kingdom of France (Royaume de France) — Recognizing the US in 1778, France’s main reason was geopolitical maneuverings against Great Britain, their long-time adversary. France looked for revenge for its loss of its North American territories back in the Seven Years War. France secretly funneled weapons and money to the Continental Army from the very beginning, but they delayed official diplomatic recognition until they were certain the Americans could actually win.
5 — The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden) — Formally recognizing the US in 1782, Dutch motivation was fundamentally commercial and financial. Dutch merchants made massive profits selling gunpowder to the North American rebels. This prompted Great Britain to, in turn, declare war on them, pushing the Dutch closer to the American cause. Much like the Haudenosaunee, the Dutch formed a confederacy of seven sovereign provinces.
