French & Indian War

Competing for an Empire

French & Indian War Pre-assessment

1. When did the French & Indian War begin?2. Explain the causes of the French & Indian War.3. What role did the area around Pittsburgh play in the

war?4. List two groups involved in the war.5. What role did George Washington play in the war?6. List three major people involved in the war.7. Describe the effects the war had on North America. 8. In what year did the war end?9. Explain how the war played a role in causing the

American Revolution.

Rivals for North America

By late 1600’s England and two Rivals in North America: Spain & France

Spain and England often clashed in the West Indies and along the border between Georgia and Spanish Florida

France claimed all the land along the Mississippi: built a string of Forts to protect their claim

The Balance of Power

French Advantages Single Government Could make quick

decisions Many Indian allies Established forts in

Ohio valley

English Advantages Indian allies Strong Navy Colonial population

20 times greater Colonies were

easier to defend

Native Americans Take Sides

England English were farmers

and usually ignored Indian rights

Settlers expand into Indian lands

Found allies among the Iroquois: enemies of the Algonquins

Also won the help of Indians in Ohio Valley

France Indians controlled fur

trade French were fur

trappers Expected the Indians

to take their side Found allies among

the Algonquins and Hurons

The Ohio Valley

1. Why were the English and French interested in the Ohio Valley?

2. Explain why Native Americans mostly sided with the French?

Drama at Fort Necessity Washington was sent to

tell the French to leave and build a Fort to protect English claims

Washington attacked a small French force (opening shots of the war)near Jumonville Glen

Washington expecting a counter attack builds Fort Necessity

A strong French & Indian force attacks, forcing Washington to surrender

The Defeat at Fort Necessity

1. Why did Washington’s men attack the French at Jumonville Glen?

2. Do you think it was a wise decision by Washington?

3. Evaluate why Washington was defeated at Fort Necessity.

4. What would you have done differently?

A Plan of Union

Delegates from the English colonies met to discuss a plan proposed by Ben Franklin to work together against the French in Albany

Plan called for a Grand Council with representatives from each colony

Council would make laws, raise taxes and set up the defense of the colonies

Delegates approved the plan but the colonial assemblies rejected it because they did not want to give up power

Warm-up

What role did George Washington play in the early events of the French & Indian War?

English Setbacks

1755 British army under General Edward Braddock led troops to attack Ft. Duquesne

Washington was Braddock’s Aide de Camp

Braddock’s army moved slow: had to cut a road & carried cannon and heavy gear

When Braddock neared Ft Duquesne the French & Indians launched a surprise attack

French & Indian sharpshooters hid in the woods and picked the British off

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Braddock’s Defeat

Braddock had five horses shot out from under him before he fell mortally wounded

Washington escaped without a wound

Almost half of the British were killed or wounded

Over the next two years the French won a string of victories

Braddock’s Defeat

1. Explain how a much stronger force under General Braddock was easily defeated by a much smaller force.

2. Describe what you believe were the bad decisions made by Braddock.

3. What role did Washington play in the battle.

4. Evaluate: Why did the British fight the way that they did in the battle?

Battle of Fort Oswego The Battle of Fort Oswego was one in a series of early

French victories in the North America. August 10, 1756, a force of French soldiers and Canadian

militia under General Montcalm captured the British Fort Oswego.

The fall of Fort Oswego interrupted American shipping on Lake Ontario. The battle showed that European siege tactics would work in North American.

The Battle of Lake George Siege of Fort William Henry The Battle of Fort William

Henry in August 1757 resulted in Great Britain's loss of Fort William Henry to a French army under Louis-Joseph de Montcalm.

Following the siege, some of Montcalm's Native American allies violated his surrender terms and attacked a column of British survivors (women and children as well as men).

Turning of the Tide In the first two years the British suffered a

series of defeats and the war did not go well 1757 William Pitt became the new Prime

Minister of the British government Under Pitt’s leadership the tide of battle

turned British won important victories: Lord Jeffery

Amherst took Louisbourg and General Jonathan Forbes captured Ft Duquesne

Fort Duquesne Finally Falls Sept 14, 1758

Advanced force of 800 British Defeated

Fall of 1758 French abandon Fort Duquesne

Forbes takes control of Fort Duquesne November 25th 1758

Final Victory 1759 Pitt sent Gen. James Wolfe to attack Quebec the French

Capital Quebec was well defended and sat atop a steep cliff Wolfe’s troops climbed the cliff at night During the Battle both the Marquis de Montcalm and Wolfe

were killed The British won the Battle

British Gains

With the capture of Quebec the British win the war

Treaty of Paris in 1763 ends the war

Britain gained all of Canada and all lands east of Mississippi

Spain gained all lands west of the Mississippi