the french and indian war

Chapter 5

Like so many believe, the war was not between the French and the Indians. It was between the French with their allies and the British with their allies.

This was the war that changed the future of North America.

The war began with disputes over land. France and England wanted the same land. French Explorers Marquette, Joliet, La Salle, etc.,

had been the first Europeans in the Great Lakes region, as well as the land between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

The French gained more support from the Natives than the English. The French did not clear the land They married natives They adopted the natives ways.

However, the English still gained Natives on their side.

Natives helped them because they liked the fact that: English paid higher prices for the furs they

purchased They (English) supported the fight against

Native enemies.

In the English Charters, the King had granted land from coast to coast- even though no one knew where the West Coast was.

The land among the colonies was beginning to disappear at a rapid rate due to so many settlements.

More English settlers pushed further west to settle.

The French and Indian War ripped through America for 2 years before it became the fourth Anglo-French War in 1756. It was also known as The Seven Years’ War

in Europe. Europe had problems close to 50 years before

the war.

Both Britain and France wanted to control North America, the Caribbean and Asia.

England had the 13 colonies under their control, as well as a treaty with the Iroquois Nation for land along the Ohio River.

The French had a Canadian Governor named Marquis Duquesne. He ordered that forts be built to protect the bustling fur trade. England sent word to

Dinwiddie to begin building forts as well.

Major GEORGE WASHINGTON's Journal to the River OHIO, etc

Wednesday, October 31, 1753

Check out this link and read GW’s letter that was printed in the Maryland Gazette

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/journal/journaltext.html

Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia sent a young George Washington to Fort le Boeuf in the Ohio territory.

He sent with him a letter telling the French they were trespassing.

The French, however, did not leave. On the way back, GW found a great place

to build a fort where the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River.

So, the English got to work building the fort. The French took notice. They decided to take over and finish the fort as their own.

It was named Fort Duquesne after the governor of New France.

In the meantime, Washington was sent to the Ohio Valley with troops to establish forces and recruit natives to the English side.

Washington’s men attacked a French scouting party, led by the brother of a Commander at Fort Duquesne.

They retreated to build Fort Necessity.

The French were able to take them easily (July 3, 1754). French larger in number. Fort close to woods. Gunpowder dampened.

This was the first battle of the French and Indian War.

Coincidentally, Washington gave up Ft. Necessity at Great Meadows on July 4, 1754; 22 years to the day before the Declaration of Independence was signed!

1754- The French and Indian War had begun; however, war was not officially

declared until 2 years later.

It was written by Benjamin Franklin and John Hutchinson

It was the first effort that was made to unite all of the colonies, as well as unite with the natives. It was not adopted.

The colonists did not want to give up their rights.

They were afraid they would lose the power they had, as well as their land.

A cartoon in BenjaminFranklin’s newspaper about the Albany Plan of Union.

He was sent in to push the French out of the Ohio territory after they would not leave on their own.

Washington served underhim.

General Braddock was not used to the French war style- guerrilla warfare.

He thought that the European way was just as good and he would stick with that.

The English wore bright, red uniforms that made them easily seen.

Washington knew this; Braddock did not.

Braddock marched his troops within 10 miles of Ft. Duquesne.

Little did he know that the enemies were hiding in the woods camouflaged.

Braddock marched his troops within 10 miles of Ft. Duquesne.

Little did he know that the enemies were hiding in the woods camouflaged.

The defeat on General Braddock’s troops answered the question many had been asking before the war even started.

Who was stronger- England or France?

The French and Indians were close to being outnumbered by 2 to 1, but they destroyed the English forces.

Braddock was injured and died 3 days later.

Because he assumed command: Washington received the bullet holes when he

tried to save his men after Braddock was wounded.

He was the hero of the battle.

Washington was named as the Commander of the Virginia Militia; he was not a replacement for General Braddock.

“We continue our March from Fort Cumberland to Frazier’s (which is within 8 miles of Duquesne) without meeting any extraordinary event, having only a straggler or two picked up by the French Indians. When we came to this place, we were attacked (very unexpectedly) by about three hundred French and Indians.

Our numbers consisted of about thirteen hundred well armed men, chiefly Regulars, who were immediately struck with such an inconceivable panick, that nothing byt confusion and disobedience of orders prevailed among them.

The officers, in general, behaved with incomparable bravery, for which they greatly suffered, there being near 600 killed and wounded—a large proportion out of the number we had!

The Virginia companies behaved like men and died like soldiers; for I believe out of three companies that were on the ground that day scarce thirty were left alive. Capt. Payroney and all his officers, down to a corporal, were killed; Capt. Polson had almost as hard a fate, for only one of his escaped.

In short, the dastardly behaviour of the Regular troops (so-called) exposed those who were inclined to do their duty to almost certain death; and, at length, in spite of every effort to the contrary, broke and ran as sheep before hounds, leaving the artillery, ammunition, provisions, baggage, and in short, everything a prey to the enemy.

And when we endeavoured to rally them, in hopes of regaining the ground and what we had left upon it, it was with as little success as if we had attempted to have stopped the wild bears of the mountains, or rivulets without feet; for they would break by, in despite of every effort that could be made to prevent it.”

Shortly after, he married a wealthy widow named Martha Custis who had two children.

He moved his family to Mount Vernon in Virginia.

He drove a wagon in Braddock’s army. He grew up on the frontier and could

fight like an Indian. He was part of the battle nearFort Duquesne.

War of Britain against France and Spain concluded with a series of victories for the British.

Spain had joined as a French ally in 1762. Caribbean sugar islands, which were

owned by the French, came under British control.

This sent a message to the French that British troops could not be beat.

It was crucial for the British to win this battle.

They climbed over steep and rocky terrain during the night , onto the Plains of Abraham.

The battle was fatal for the French. French Commander Montcalm and British Commander Wolfe both died in this battle.

The war finally ended on February 10, 1763, with the Treaty of Paris.

France were able to keep some islands in the Caribbean.

Britain released Cuba and the Philippines back to Spain. Spain gave the British Florida. Great Britain gained all territory that was east

of the Mississippi River, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson’s Bay.

France and Spain were both on the verge of financial collapse. Britain, however, was dominating Europe and was ready to do the same in the New World.