the french and indian war (1754-63) the final colonial war
TRANSCRIPT
England vs. France• Both sought control of
Europe + commercial supremacy
• Colonial wars part of larger conflicts in Europe
• Fought mainly at sea & in colonies
• Ohio Valley - main area of conflict
Ohio Valley Claims• English, French, & Indians
had competing land claims in lands west of Appalachians
• VA formed Ohio Co. & speculated in land & fur trade–Competing w/ France for
Indian fur trade
• French built chain of forts to halt English expansion - extended into PA territory
French and Indian War
• VA colonial militia under Col. George Washington sent to evict French forces (1754)
• Built Fort Necessity near strategic French Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh)
• Washington forced to abandon Necessity facing superior French troops (7/4/1754)
• Indian support faded w/ loss
Albany Conference of 1754
• Delegates of 7 colonies met w/ Iroquois chiefs to discuss mutual defense
• Plan of colonial union proposed by Franklin
• A Grand Council would oversee defense, Indian relations, trade, taxation & westward expansion
• Would have a royally appointed executive with veto power
Albany Plan cont.
• 1st plan of Inter-Colonial Union
• Albany Plan rejected by colonies & Parliament
• England feared colonies would become too strong
• Colonies refused to surrender control over own taxation
–Even in face of real danger
Early British Failures
• Braddock underestimated French & unfamiliar w/ wilderness warfare
• 1755 - French & Indians ambushed Braddock’s force of British & Colonial soldiers near Ft. Duquesne
• 900 incl. Braddock die vs. 23 French - Washington leads survivors home
• 1756 - Montcalm (FR) invades NY
British Failures cont.• Most British regulars
committed to European fighting
• Bulk of early fighting done by colonial militia
• Poorly coordinated - gave French & Indian allies an early advantage
• Only early British victory was in Nova Scotia (1755) - expelled the Acadians
French Advantage
• Anglo-Americans outnumbered French forces 20:1 but were ill-trained
• Colonies resisted providing more troops
• Most enlisted for short time
• French well-trained & led
• Fought hard
• Canadians recruited in large numbers
The Tide Turns• 1757 - English Prime
Minister William Pitt took control of fighting forces
• Sent troops, able leaders & supplies
• Greater support for war in England & colonies
• Raised # of colonial troops by promising that England would pay for the war
• 21K colonial troops in 1758
British Offensives
• Led by British generals Jeffrey Amherst & James Wolfe
• Amherst took Ft. Duquesne & Louisbourg in 1758–Louisbourg guards entrance to
St. Lawrence River
• Drive French from northern NY & Lake Ontario region in 1759
British-American invasion of Canada
• Turning point of the war
• 1759 - Wolfe captured Quebec -Capital of New France & a military stronghold
–Decisive battle of the war
–Montcalm & Wolfe killed
• 1760 - Montreal fell, effectively ending French resistance
Treaty of Paris of 1763• France cedes Canada to
England
• England gave French back the islands of Guadaloupe & Martinique + 1/2 of Hispanola
• France gave Spain New Orleans & all land west of Miss. River
• England kept Florida
• Havana & Manila returned to Spain
• England took India
Results and Consequences of the War
For England:
• England dominant in N. Am.
• National debt in England doubled as a result of the war
• Parliament looked to the colonies for additional money
–Would begin to tax colonies for the purpose of raising $
• Wanted Americans to pay 1/3 of cost of their defense
Results & ConsequencesFor the Colonies:
• French threat removed–Colonists less dependent on
England for defense
• Valuable military experience for soldiers–Learned importance of unity
& cooperation
• Colonials resent change in economic & trade policy
• English ideas, language, & institutions survive
Residual Friction• Colonists resented lack of
credit given to militias
• British officers complained about quality of militia men & lack of civilian support
–e.g. supplying food & shelter
• Colonist resented arrogance of British officers
• British citizens resented higher taxes to pay for war–Pitt promised to cover cost
Residual Friction
• Colonial expansion into west angered Indians
• Some (e.g. Pontiac) led anti-British movements
• Attacked frontier forts
–Fighting cost England $
• Indians eventually make peace
• Brit govt. issued Proclamation of 1763 to appease Indians
Proclamation of 1763• England took control of
western lands
–Settlement, trade, etc
• Goal - organize expansion
• Recognized Indian claims west of proclamation line
• Colonist thought they needed western land to prosper
• Saw British troops who enforced Proc. Line as hindering needed expansion
English Civil War - 1642
StuartRestoration - 1660
RelativeColonial Autonomy
Imperial Control
Dominion of New England1686-89
Edmund Andros Colonial Resistance
Glorious Revolution1689 End of
DominionProtestant Monarchy
English MilitaryAssistance inColonial Wars
Increased Colonial Satisfaction with &
Reliance on England
Colonial Allegiance Tied To Events In England
Restoration Colonies
Navigation Acts - 1660’s
King William’s War - 1689-97
Queen Anne’s War - 1701-13
King George’s War - 1744-48