Prelude to the Prelude to the Revolution: The French Revolution: The French

and Indian Warand Indian War

US History - Libertyville HSUS History - Libertyville HS

Setting the StageSetting the StageF & I war an F & I war an

extension of the 7 extension of the 7 Years War in Years War in EuropeEurope

Big Question: Who Big Question: Who will control world will control world trade?trade?

F & I (in America) = 7 Yrs War (in Europe)

The SidesThe Sides French possessions in French possessions in

AmericaAmerica

West of Appalachians, West of Appalachians, past Great Lakes and past Great Lakes and Mississippi RiverMississippi River

Quebec & OntarioQuebec & Ontario

English possessions in English possessions in AmericaAmerica Eastern seaboard, short of Eastern seaboard, short of

Appalachians and Lake Appalachians and Lake ErieErie

Colonists had been in Colonists had been in America for 150 years – America for 150 years – separate identity formingseparate identity forming

Not all were even British! Not all were even British! (German, Scottish, Dutch)(German, Scottish, Dutch)French Royal Flag, 18th C. British Union Flag, 18th C.

What about the Native What about the Native Americans?Americans?Ohio Valley Ohio Valley

Indians allied with Indians allied with FrenchFrench

French began French began building line of building line of forts through Ohio forts through Ohio ValleyValleyCut off English Cut off English

access to fur tradeaccess to fur tradeAlso, block English Also, block English

colonists from colonists from expanding westexpanding west

What about the Native What about the Native Americans?Americans? Iroquois were Iroquois were

reluctant allies of reluctant allies of BritishBritish

The Iroquois HATED The Iroquois HATED the coloniststhe colonists

BUT . . . they HATED BUT . . . they HATED the Ohio Valley the Ohio Valley Indians moreIndians more

Some attempted Some attempted neutrality - lose / lose neutrality - lose / lose propositionproposition

Indian slaughter of prisoners, 1759

Lead up to WarLead up to WarBritish claimed British claimed

same lands as same lands as FrenchFrench

Sent 15,000 Sent 15,000 regulars regulars (“Redcoats”) to (“Redcoats”) to protect colonistsprotect colonists

British also planned British also planned seizure of Canada seizure of Canada (for the fur trade)(for the fur trade)

Start of WarStart of War Young George Washington Young George Washington

(21 y.o.) in charge of VA (21 y.o.) in charge of VA militia (Mom story & militia (Mom story & Braddock)Braddock) Sent to Pittsburgh in 1754 to Sent to Pittsburgh in 1754 to

stop French fort buildingstop French fort building French forts: Duquesne & French forts: Duquesne &

Le BoeufLe Boeuf GW builds Fort NecessityGW builds Fort Necessity Brits send along Iroquois Brits send along Iroquois

allies (Half-Chief)allies (Half-Chief) Americans ambush French; Americans ambush French;

Iroquois slaughter patrolIroquois slaughter patrol French counterattack, defeat French counterattack, defeat

Washington – he surrendersWashington – he surrenders 1755 - General Braddock 1755 - General Braddock

ambushed, killed = WAR!ambushed, killed = WAR!

Washington,In VA militiauniform

Indians, During the WarIndians, During the War Ohio Valley Indians kill Ohio Valley Indians kill

about 3,500 colonists about 3,500 colonists in raids in first 3 years in raids in first 3 years of warof war

Colonists HATE the OV Colonists HATE the OV indiansindians

1760 – flag of truce for 1760 – flag of truce for tradetrade Indians ask for blanketsIndians ask for blankets Jeffrey Amherst: traded Jeffrey Amherst: traded

blankets infected with blankets infected with smallpoxsmallpox

OV Indians devastated OV Indians devastated by disease that winter – by disease that winter – never recovernever recover

Ohio RiverValley

Results of WarResults of WarEnglish win on ALL English win on ALL

frontsfronts1760: Fighting in 1760: Fighting in

Europe endsEurope endsBritish send 60,000 British send 60,000

more troops to more troops to America, CanadaAmerica, Canada

Push French out of Push French out of Quebec, West Quebec, West across Mississippiacross Mississippi

Death of British General Wolfe outside Quebec

Demographics of America, Demographics of America, 17631763

NationwideNationwide 2.3 million whites and blacks2.3 million whites and blacks 90% Americans are farmers90% Americans are farmers

4 major cities (shipping)4 major cities (shipping) New York City (28,000)New York City (28,000) Boston, MA (32,000)Boston, MA (32,000) Philadelphia, PA (30,000)Philadelphia, PA (30,000) Charleston, SC (10,000)Charleston, SC (10,000)

Boston

New York

Charleston

Philadelphia

Demographics of America, Demographics of America, 17631763

Between 1760 and Between 1760 and 1775, 225,000 1775, 225,000 immigrants arrive in immigrants arrive in AmericaAmericaMajority NOT EnglishMajority NOT EnglishMost German, Irish (+ Most German, Irish (+

Scots-Irish, post Scots-Irish, post Culloden)Culloden)

Military tradition very Military tradition very strong in these groupsstrong in these groups

Demographics of America, Demographics of America, 17631763

SlaverySlavery½ of population of VA ½ of population of VA

slavesslavesMainly tobacco field Mainly tobacco field

workers (cotton didn’t workers (cotton didn’t become big until become big until 1800s)1800s)

50% of Americans 50% of Americans “unfree” at some “unfree” at some point in lifepoint in lifeBlack slaveBlack slaveIndentured servantIndentured servant

Indenture contract,1739

Slaves on VAPlantation, 1790

Why Do Demographics Why Do Demographics matter?matter? Majority of American Majority of American

population made up of ... population made up of ... Indentured servantsIndentured servants Scots-IrishScots-Irish Religious dissentersReligious dissenters Former debtor-prisonersFormer debtor-prisoners GermansGermans SlavesSlaves

Loyalty to British? Not Loyalty to British? Not really! (Emerging really! (Emerging national ID: Protestants national ID: Protestants that don’t like British that don’t like British nobility / royalty)nobility / royalty)

Immigration groups, 1770

Results of War to British, Results of War to British, AmericansAmericans

Treaty of Paris (1763) makes Britain most Treaty of Paris (1763) makes Britain most powerful European countrypowerful European country

Threat of Indians, French toward colonists Threat of Indians, French toward colonists gonegone

British: colonists must love us!British: colonists must love us!

Colonists: we don’t need British any Colonists: we don’t need British any more…more…