century of imperial war european imperial conflicts spread to the americas. british military...
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CENTURY OF IMPERIAL WAR
• European imperial conflicts spread to the Americas.
• British military superiority did not rest unchallenged during this era.
King William’s War– William III of England declared war on Louis XIV of
France (1689)– Called King William’s War or War of the League of
Augsburg– Canadians raided NY and NE frontiers
• No territory lost• Much suffering and disruption
– Ended w/Treaty of Ryswick in 1697
Queen Anne’s War/War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713)– Bloody combat along the American frontier– Ended with the Treaty of Utrecht (1713)– George I hoped for peace
1. War was destructive and expensive2. These wars had produced little gain3. But the French feared British territorial
encroachments in the Americas4. Iroquois sided with the British; Algonquians
w/ the French
King George’s War and Its Aftermath (1743-1748)*Also known as The War of Austrian Succession– American colonists captured
Louisbourg from the French– A strategic post that guarded St.
Lawrence & Quebec– Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, GB
returned Louisbourg• Colonists were puzzled• Colonial interests seemed unimportant to GB
– VA tried to defeat the French alone at Fort Necessity
• Washington & the Virginians were soundly defeated
• A sign that a single colony could not defeat the French
Albany Congress & Braddock’s Defeat– Franklin presented the Albany plan at this
British-called defense conference– Included formation of a Grand Council of
colonial delegates• oversee common defense • Also western expansion and Indian affairs
– Required the support of the colonies and Parliament
• The English feared an erosion of authority• Colonists couldn’t overcome regional
jealousies
– Frontier fighting continued in the Ohio Valley• Braddock and his men were badly defeated
by a small force• 70% were killed or wounded• Those who survived were angry and
embarrassed (GW)• The European style of warfare was not
effective…
Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)– William Pitt determined that the French
must be expelled from America– Pitt (a cabinet minister) took control of
the army and navy1. Amherst and Wolfe took
Louisbourg & cut French supply lines2. French forts in the Ohio Valley & Great Lakes fell3. Brits scaled cliffs & defeated the
FR on the Plains of Abraham * Wolfe and Marquis de
Montcalm died * Led to final FR surrender in Montreal
Treaty of Paris (1763) surrender the FR empire in North America
1. 80,000 residents of Quebec became British citizens
2. American colonists were thrilled at participating in the victory
Conclusion
Perceptions of War• Colonial cooperation was key to the victory• George Washington & others realized that the British were not
invincible• The British were upset by colonial ingratitude & refusal to pay war
costs• Colonists saw themselves as equal partners in the struggle• Wolfe & others mocked colonial soldiers and contributions
Question?• -Were Americans equal partners or spoiled children who wanted
more than they deserved? • The Seven Years’ War and its aftermath would raise these questions
and many more. But at first, Americans hailed the British victory and empire and saw themselves as full British citizens. Those in Eng. did not share this perception.
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