Ch. 6 – The Duel for North Ch. 6 – The Duel for North AmericaAmerica
North America in 1750North America in 1750
Ch. 6 – The Duel for North Ch. 6 – The Duel for North AmericaAmerica
North America in 1750North America in 1750
French Canada
• French established Quebec in 1608 (a year after Jamestown)– Founded by Samuel de
Champlain ("Father of New France"). • Entered into friendship with
local Huron Indians, the enemies of the Iroquois.
• Significance: Iroquois, in retaliation, later kept French from expanding into Ohio Valley, ravaged French settlements, & allied with British.
New France expands in North
America • Of the European powers, the French were most successful in creating an effective trading relationship with the Amerindians.
• British settlers sought to remove or exterminate them.
• Spanish sought to Christianize them and subdued them in missions.
• French became great gift givers (key to getting along with Amerindians who based inter-tribal relationships on gift giving).
– Trade seen by Amerindians as a continuing process.
– When one group stopped trading with another, it was tantamount to declaring war.
New France expands in North America• Beaver trade led to exploration of
much of North America – Heavy demand for fur in European
fashion.– Coureurs de bois (runners of the
woods) were rough frontiersmen heavily involved in fur trading.
– Voyageurs: French seamen who recruited Amerindians into the fur trade.
– Jesuits: Catholic Missionaries who sought to convert Amerindians and save them from the fur trappers.
• Some brutally killed by Amerindians.
• Played a vital role as explorers and geographers.
New France expands in North America
• Other French Explorers– Antoine Cadillac -- founded Detroit in
1701
• Aimed to keep English settlers out of the Ohio Valley.
– Robert de La Salle -- Sailed from Quebec, down through Great Lakes, and down the Mississippi River in 1682 with help of Amerindian guides.
• Sought to prevent Spanish expansion into Gulf of Mexico region.
• Coined name "Louisiana" in honor of Louis XIV.
Robert La Salle
New France expands in North America
• French established posts in Mississippi region – St. Louis, Cape Girardeau - New
Orleans most important. – Attempt to block Spanish
expansion into the Gulf of Mexico.– Large amounts of grain sent down
the Mississippi River for shipment to West Indies & Europe.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• French & Indian War (1754-1763 -- Seven Years' War) --most important of the colonial wars.– Main issue was the Ohio Valley.
• British were pushing west into it; wary of French influence in North America.
• French needed to retain it to link Canada with the lower Mississippi valley & Caribbean.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)• Washington’s Ohio Mission
– Battle near Fort Duquesne -- May, 1754 – Lt. Col. George Washington sent by
Virginia govt to forks of Ohio River to prevent French from building fort there; hoped instead to build a British fort
– Washington defeated and forced to surrender his entire command but allowed to leave with his army intact.
– In effect, Washington triggered a world war.
– British retaliated by clamping down in Nova Scotia.
• Relocated 4,000 Nova Scotians throughout the continent including Louisiana.
• French-speaking Acadians became the descendants of modern day "Cajuns“.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)• Albany Congress (1754)
– Leaders from all colonies met in Albany to discuss Amerindian problem & meet with Iroquois.
– Iroquois refused to commit themselves to the British.
– Long-range purpose: greater colonial unity; strong defense against France.
• Albany Plan for Union – Benjamin Franklin created plan for
colonial home rule: dealt with defense and Indian affairs.
• Adopted by delegates.• Individual colonies rejected it: not
enough independence. • British rejected it: too much
independence.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• British General Braddock defeated a few miles from Ft. Duquesne by smaller French & Indian forces (1755). – British launched full-scale
invasion of Canada in 1756 but failed.
• William Pitt (The "Great Commoner") became leader of British govt.– Very popular among British
people; his success in the war led to Ft. Duquesne being renamed Pittsburgh.
– Strategy: focus on France in North America in order to win the war.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Battle of Quebec (1760) – Pitt appointed James Wolfe
to take Quebec.– British successful on the
Plains of Abraham (near Quebec) but Wolfe & French commander de Montcalm were killed.
– One of most significant battles in British & American history.
BritishBritish
• March in formation or March in formation or bayonet charge. bayonet charge.
• Br. officers wanted toBr. officers wanted to take charge of take charge of colonials.colonials.
• Prima Donna Br. Prima Donna Br. officers with servants officers with servants & tea settings. & tea settings.
• Drills & toughDrills & tough discipline. discipline.
• Colonists should payColonists should pay for their own defense. for their own defense.
• Indian-style guerillaIndian-style guerilla tactics. tactics.
• Col. militias servedCol. militias served under own captains. under own captains.
• No mil. deference orNo mil. deference or protocols observed. protocols observed.
• Resistance to risingResistance to rising taxes. taxes.
• Casual, Casual, non-professionals. non-professionals.
Methods ofMethods ofFighting:Fighting:
MilitaryMilitaryOrganization:Organization:
MilitaryMilitaryDiscipline:Discipline:
Finances:Finances:
Demeanor:Demeanor:
British – American Colonial Tensions
British – American Colonial Tensions
ColonialsColonials
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Treaty of Paris (1763): In effect, France was removed from North America– (Technically, land
west of Mississippi River still French but not yet settled.) Great Britain emerged as the dominant power in North America & as the leading naval power in the world.
British – American Colonial Tensions
• Effects of the French & Indian War on American Colonials:– Colonies emerged from war with
increased confidence in their military strength.
• Colonial military leaders angry few Americans were promoted in British army.
– United them against a common enemy for United them against a common enemy for the first time. the first time.
– Created a Created a socializing experiencesocializing experience for all for all the colonials who participated. the colonials who participated.
– Created Created bitter feelings towards Britishbitter feelings towards British that that would only intensify. would only intensify.
– American westward expansion increasedAmerican westward expansion increased. . French barrier west of the Appalachians French barrier west of the Appalachians was removed. was removed.
British – American Colonial Tensions• Effects of the French & Indian War
on Great Britain:– British upset American shippers traded
with Spanish & French West Indies. – Some colonials refused to supply troops:
saw economic gain as more important than loyalty to Britain.
• Only later agreed to commit troops when Pitt offered to substantially reimburse colonies.
– Increased her colonial empireIncreased her colonial empire in the in the Americas & greatly Americas & greatly enlarged England’s enlarged England’s debt.debt.
– Britain’s contempt for the colonials Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings. created bitter feelings.
• Therefore, England felt that a major Therefore, England felt that a major reorganization of her reorganization of her American Empire was necessary!American Empire was necessary!
More Colonial Trouble w/ Indians• Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)
– Indians in Ohio Valley region angered at British treatment of Indians during the last years of the French and Indian War.
– Chief Pontiac, Ottowa chief, refused to surrender his lands to British although France (their ally in the war) had lost and were now gone.
– Chief Pontiac led an Indian alliance against whites in Ohio Valley & Great Lakes region.
• 9 of 11 British forts taken; several wiped out. • Perhaps 2,000 lives lost, colonials driven from
homes on the frontier– Took British 18 months to bring the rebellion
under control. • Brits retaliated with germ warfare: blankets
infected with smallpox distributed among the Native Americans.
• Proclamation of 1763 – In response to Pontiac’s rebellion,
George III signed an edict prohibiting colonials to move west of the Appalachians.
– British aim: Settle land disputes with Indians fairly to prevent more uprisings like Pontiac's and organize eventual settlement and defense.
– Colonials infuriated: Many veterans had fought in the war and felt betrayed & that land was a birthright of British citizens.
– Colonials generally ignored the Proclamation and moved West anyway.