British Peace Medal – The Look Back – PBS Wisconsin Education

What can a British Peace Medal presented to a Menominee chief tell us about the American Revolution in Wisconsin?

From the 1600s through the 1800s, Spanish, French, British, and American government officials, missionaries, and traders gave presentation medals to American Indians for a variety of reasons. They may have been given to secure an alliance, commemorate a treaty signing, honor Native visitors to a city, or as a reward for service. Sir Frederick Haldimand, a British army officer and colonial official, gave this medal to Menominee Chief Chawanon — also known as Chakachokama, or Tsheka Tshake Mau — in 1778. It’s a reminder of how Native nations were involved in the Revolutionary War.

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Questions to consider

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What were some of the factors that led to the American Revolution? What was happening in the area that we now call Wisconsin around the time the revolution began and who was involved?

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What do we know about the use of presentation medals? How did the people who received the medals feel about them and how do we know?

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How is the story of the Menominee people and their homelands part of the story of the American Revolution? Why did the British come to the area, and what were they told about it by Chief Chawanon?

Meet the historians

Young man in a checkered shirt speaking in front of bookshelves in a studio setting.

Sergio González

History Professor

I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.

Young man in a checkered shirt speaking in front of bookshelves in a studio setting.

Sergio González

History Professor

I was a taekwondo fanatic as a kid and won a few medals and trophies for my forms, known in Korean as hyeong.

Everything I know about the Revolutionary War I learned from Schoolhouse Rock!

I’m more of a fan of historical fiction although you might catch me humming a tune or two while digging through the archives.

Man with a mustache and green round glasses talking on a phone outside, with trees in the background.

Nick Hoffman

Public Historian

I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!

Man with a mustache and green round glasses talking on a phone outside, with trees in the background.

Nick Hoffman

Public Historian

I won many medals as a high school track and field athlete.

I can barely remember last week. What I do know is they instilled a passion for history that shaped my entire career!

Hard pass.

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Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!

Woman with long straight hair and neutral expression speaking in front of a teal wall and brick background.

Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

Yes, sort of. I got a medal for running a half-marathon – and so did everyone else who finished!

Mostly about the British and the American colonists and those famous phrases like “No taxation with representation,” “The British are coming!” Not much at all about the Native perspective!

LOVE. I was in my high school productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Into the Woods” and already know all of the words to the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack.

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John W. Hall

History Professor

I study military history in North America and the relations between American Indians, Europeans, and early Americans.

Man with a styled mustache, beard, and glasses speaking indoors with light from tall windows behind him.

John W. Hall

History Professor

Quite a few! I used to be a competitive runner, and I served nearly 25 years in the army, in which you don’t have to be a hero to get recognized for hard work.

Grade school: That Thomas Jefferson at his best was a very intelligent, enlightened man.

Graduate school: That there is so much more to the story!

Can’t get enough of them!

Man with glasses and a neatly trimmed beard wearing a tan blazer speaking in a historic interior with tall windows.

“I would argue that much of ensuing American history is kind of a struggle of the United States to live up to ideals that are embodied in the Declaration of Independence. But the flip side of it is that they do feel that the British crown is impinging upon their rights to treat continental North America as something of a birthright.”

John W. Hall

Episode credits

Producer
David Boffa
PBS LearningMedia

Hosts
Sergio González
Nick Hoffman
Cat Phan

Special Guest
David Grignon
John W. Hall

Research and Writing
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks

Videography
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich

Editing
David Boffa
Ian Glodich

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer

Translation Services
Rev

Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy

Web Development
John Vieth

Digital Content
Mark Riechers

Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Danielle Riseley

Additional Production Support
Will Salzmann
Terrance Volden

Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Director of Education
Megan Monday

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society

Special Thanks
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

Funding provided by

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin

America at 250 Partners