As a body the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee pursued a policy of neutrality with both Britain and France. This was the general of the Haudenosaunee towards the Europeans from the time of the first wampum belt with the Dutch, the famous two row wampum and from before contact stretching back to the Great Peace which united the Haudenosaunee. Haudenosaunee policy was one of non-interference (as symbolized with the two rivers of purple wampum running in parallel but not crossing). The Great Peace was a policy to pursue peaceful relations whenever possible, however, in defense the Haudenosaunee were a formidable fighting force and their expansion across the continent during the Great Pursuit shows that once war was triggered the Haudenosaunee would fight fiercely. In 1760 the Grand Council met with William Johnson to reaffirm this neutrality with regards to British affairs.
However the grand council governed by consensus and each of the nations under the confederacy had considerable freedom to pursue their own affairs. When war broke out the Haudenosaunee heard appeals from both the British and the French for support but decided to remain neutral in keeping with their long standing treaties and the core policy of the Grand Peace. Primarily the Oneida and Tuscarora favored the Americans. William Johnson, however, tried to use his influence to bring the Kainen'keha (Mohawk) into the conflict. During a speech to the council fire of the eastern door Johnson suffered a heart attack and never recovered. However Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) who had a family relationship with Johnson through his half sister and ties to England continued to push for Kainen'keha to enter the conflict. Theyendanegea already had a considerable position within the British military and was pursuing promises on the part of the crown to redress territorial grievances by settlers on Haudenosaunee territory. Thayendanegea managed to win promises of support and land in quebec in exchange for supporting the British cause in the war. Through marriage to Adonwentishon who became clan mother of the Turtle Clan of Kainen'keha (clan mothers had the power to appoint and revoke the sanchem of each clan who sat at the council fire and represented the nation at the grand council), and his skill in negotiation and european education, Thayendanegea had considerable influence in the Kainen'keha council. Through this he was able to muster forces within Kainen'keha which in defiance of the Grand Council, Thayendanegea led into attacks into Canada and against the United States.
In 1777 the British launched a plan to cut off the other colonies from New England by seizing the Hudson Valley. However this meant moving south through the heart of Haudenosaunee territory and required the consent of the Grand Council. Thayendanegea argued the Haudenosaunee were in danger of losing their territories by remaining neutral in the conflict and managed to win over the Seneca and Cayuga but was still opposed by the Oneida. Unable to resolve the issue and come to consensus the Onondaga extinguished the council fire. Officially the Haudenosaunee had not sided with the British but the individual nations were free to pursue their own affairs and the general support was towards England. When fighting broke out some Oneida sided with the Americans and some Seneca and Kainen'keha sided with England.