121

1754French and IndianWar begins

1758French forces drivenout of Fort Duquesne

1759British forcescapture Quebec

1763Proclamation of1763 established

Main IdeaEngland and France fought for controlof North America. The French andIndian War resulted from this struggle.

Key Termsalliance, speculator

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information As you readthe section, re-create the diagrambelow and describe the effects theseevents had on the conflict betweenFrance and Britain.

Read to Learn how British fortunes improved after

William Pitt took over direction ofthe war.

how Chief Pontiac united his peo-ple to fight for their land.

Section ThemeIndividual Action Victory or loss inwar often depended on the actions of a single leader.

The French and Indian War

CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow

These lakes, these woods, and mountains were left [to] us by our ancestors. Theyare our inheritances, and we will part with them to no one. . . . [Y]ou ought to knowthat He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us in these spaciouslakes and on the woody mountains. . . .

These words, spoken by Chief Pontiac, served as a warning to the British colonistswho wanted to take Native American lands.

The British Take ActionDuring the French and Indian War, some Native Americans fought on the

side of the British. Many others fought against the British. The war that raged inNorth America through the late 1750s and early 1760s was one part of a largerstruggle between England and France for control of world trade and power onthe seas.

In 1754 the governor of Massachusetts announced to the colonial assembly thatthe French were on the way to making themselves masters of this Continent.

Native Americanmaize mask

Turning point Effect

Pitt takes charge

Quebec falls

Preview of Events

Guide to Reading

1750 1755 1760 1765

CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow122

The British colonists knew that the French werebuilding well-armed forts throughout the GreatLakes region and the Ohio River valley. Their net-work of alliances, or unions, with Native Ameri-cans allowed the French to control large areas ofland, stretching from the St. Lawrence River inCanada all the way south to New Orleans. TheFrench and their Native American allies seemedto be winning control of the American frontier.The final showdown was about to begin.

During the early stages of the French andIndian War, the British colonists fought theFrench and the Native Americans with littlehelp from Britain. In 1754, however, the govern-ment in London decided to intervene in the con-flict. It was alarmed by the new forts the Frenchwere building and by George Washingtonsdefeat at Fort Necessity. In the fall of 1754, GreatBritain appointed General Edward Braddockcommander in chief of the British forces inAmerica and sent him to drive the French out ofthe Ohio Valley.

Braddock Marches to DuquesneIn June 1755, Braddock set out from Virginia

with about 1,400 red-coated British soldiers anda smaller number of blue-coated colonial militia.George Washington served as one of his aides. Ittook Braddocks army several weeks to trekthrough the dense forest to Fort Duquesne.Washington reported that Braddock

halted to level every mole-hill and to erectbridges over every brook, by which means wewere four days in getting twelve miles.

Washington tried to tell Braddock that hisarmys style of marching was not well suited tofighting in frontier country. Lined up in columnsand rows, the troops made easy targets. Brad-dock ignored the advice.

On July 9 a combined force of Native Americanwarriors and French troops ambushed theBritish. The French and Native Americans werehidden, firing from behind trees and aiming atthe bright uniforms. The British, confused andfrightened, could not even see their attackers.One of the survivors of Braddocks army, Cap-tain Orne, later described the great confusion

Native American warriors and Frenchtroops, protected by rocks and trees, fireinto General Braddocks army, who werecrammed together on a forest trail.What weakness of the British armycontributed to Braddocks defeat?

History

123CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow

Native American allies began staging raids onfrontier farms from New York to Pennsylvania.They killed settlers, burned farmhouses andcrops, and drove many families back toward thecoast. French forces from Canada capturedBritish forts at Lake Ontario and at Lake George.

Pitt Takes ChargeGreat Britains prospects in America

improved after William Pitt came to power assecretary of state and then as prime minister. Anoutstanding military planner, Pitt knew how topick skilled commanders. He oversaw the wareffort from London.

To avoid having to deal with constant argu-ments from the colonies about the cost of thewar, Pitt decided that Great Britain would payfor supplies needed in the warno matter thecost. In doing so Pitt ran up an enormous debt.After the French and Indian War, the Britishraised the colonists taxes to help pay this debt.Pitt had only delayed the moment when thecolonists had to pay their share of the bill.

250 kilometers0Lambert Equal-Area projection

250 miles0

N

S

EW

60W80W

40N

AMHE

RS

T

WOLFE

AM

HER

ST

BRADDOCK

Gulf ofSt. Lawrence

AtlanticOcean

Lake Superior

Lake Huron

Lake

Erie

LakeOntario

Alle

ghen

yR.

Hudson

R.

LakeChamplain

MonongahelaR.

NEWFRANCE

ACADIA

Quebec

Louisbourg

Montreal Halifax

Ft. Saint JohnFt. Beausejour

Alexandria

Boston

New York City

Ft. Necessity

Ft. Duquesne

Ft. Niagara

Ft.Oswego

Ft. Frontenac

Ft. William HenryFt. TiconderogaCrown Point

The French and Indian War, 17541763

1. Movement After their victory at the French city ofQuebec, in what direction did the British troops advance?

2. Drawing Conclusions Why would Ft. Duquesne be avaluable fort to control?

that overcame Braddocks troops when theywere attacked. Braddock called for an orderlyretreat, but the panic was so great he could notsucceed. Braddock was killed, and the battleended in a bitter defeat for the British, who suf-fered nearly 1,000 casualties. Washington led thesurvivors back to Virginia.

Britain Declares War on FranceThe fighting in America helped start a new

war in Europe, known as the Seven Years War.After arranging an alliance with Prussia, Britaindeclared war on France in 1756. Prussia foughtFrance and its allies in Europe while Britainfought France in the Caribbean, India, andNorth America.

The first years of the war were disastrous forthe British and their American colonies. Frenchtroops captured several British forts, and their

British troop movementsFrench troop movements

British victory

French victory

British territory

French territory

Disputed territory

CityFort

Pitt wanted more than just a clearpath to the Western territories. He alsointended to conquer French Canada. Hesent British troops to North Americaunder the command of such energeticofficers as Jeffrey Amherst and JamesWolfe.

In 1758 Amherst and Wolfe led aBritish assault that recaptured the fortressat Louisbourg. That same year a group ofNew Englanders, led by British officers,captured Fort Frontenac at Lake Ontario.Still another British force marched acrossPennsylvania and forced the French toabandon Fort Duquesne, which wasrenamed Fort Pitt.

Describing What abilitiesdid William Pitt bring to the post of prime minister?

The Fall of New FranceThe year 1759 brought so many British victo-

ries that people said the church bells of Londonwore thin with joyous ringing. The British cap-tured several French islands in the West Indiesand the city of Havana in Cuba. They defeatedthe French in India, and destroyed a French fleetthat had been sent to reinforce Canada. Thegreatest victory of the year, though, took place inthe heart of New France.

The Battle of QuebecPerched high on a cliff overlooking the St.

Lawrence River, Quebec, the capital of NewFrance, was thought to be impossible to attack.In September 1759, British general James Wolfefound a way.

One of Wolfes scouts spotted a poorlyguarded path up the back of the cliff. Wolfes sol-diers overwhelmed the guards posted on thepath and then scrambled up the path during thenight. The British troops assembled outside thefortress of Quebec on a field called the Plains ofAbraham. There they surprised and defeated theFrench army. James Wolfe died in the battle. TheFrench commander, the Marquis de Montcalm,was wounded and died the next day.

The Treaty of ParisThe fall of Quebec and General Amhersts cap-

ture of Montreal the following year brought thefighting in North America to an end. In the Treatyof Paris of 1763, France was permitted to keepsome of its sugar-producing islands in the WestIndies, but it was forced to give Canada and mostof its lands east of the Mississippi River to GreatBritain. From Spain, Frances ally, Great Britaingained Florida. In return, Spain received Frenchlands west of the Mississippi Riverthe LouisianaTerritoryas well as the port of New Orleans.

The Treaty of Paris marked the end of Franceas a power in North America. The continent wasnow divided between Great Britain and Spain,with the Mississippi River marking the bound-ary. While the Spanish and British were workingout a plan for the future of North America,many Native Americans still lived on the landscovered by the European agreement.

Summarizing What lands did Spainreceive under the Treaty of Paris?

124 CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow

If you are French . . . join us. If you are English, we declare war against you. Let us have your answer.Pontiac, 1763

Trouble on the FrontierThe British victory over the French dealt a

blow to the Native Americans of the Ohio Rivervalley. They had lost their French allies and trad-ing partners. Although they continued to tradewith the British, the Native Americans regardedthem as enemies. The British raised the prices oftheir goods and, unlike the French, refused topay the Native Americans for the use of theirland. Worst of all, British settlers began movinginto the valleys of western Pennsylvania.

Pontiacs WarPontiac, chief of an Ottawa village near

Detroit, recognized that the British settlers threat-ened the Native American way of life. Just asBenjamin Franklin had tried to bring the coloniestogether with the Albany Plan, Pontiac wanted tojoin Native American groups to fight the British.

In the spring of 1763, Pontiac put together analliance. He attacked the British fort at Detroitwhile other war parties captured most of theother British outposts in the Great Lakes region.That summer Native Americans killed settlersalong the Pennsylvania and Virginia frontiers ina series of raids called Pontiacs War.

The Native Americans, however, failed tocapture the important strongholds of Niagara,Fort Pitt, and Detroit. The war ended in

Checking for Understanding1. Key Terms Use the terms alliance

and speculator in a short paragraphto explain their meaning.

2. Reviewing the Facts Name the threenations that were involved in theSeven Years War.

Reviewing Themes3. Individual Action How did Pontiac

plan to defend Native Americansfrom British settlers? Was his plansuccessful?

Critical Thinking4. Analyzing Information What did

the British hope to gain by issuingthe Proclamation of 1763?

5. Analyzing Information Whatactions do you think General Brad-dock could have taken to increase hisarmys chances of defeating theFrench? Re-create the diagram belowto organize your answer.

Analyzing Visuals6. Geography Skills Study the map of

the French and Indian War on page123. What was the result of the battleat Fort Duquesne? What route didBritish General Wolfe take to reachQuebec?

CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow 125

Other strategies and tactics

August 1765, after Britishtroops defeated Pon-tiacs allies, the Shawneeand Delaware people.In July 1766, Pontiacsigned a peace treatyand was pardoned bythe British.

GeographyThe Proclamation of 1763

To prevent more fighting, Britain called a haltto the settlers westward expansion. In the Procla-mation of 1763, King George III declared that theAppalachian Mountains were the temporarywestern boundary for the colonies. The procla-mation angered many people, especially thosewho owned shares in land companies. Thesespeculators, or investors, had already boughtland west of the mountains. They were furiousthat Britain ignored their land claims.

Although the end of the French and IndianWar brought peace for the first time in manyyears, the Proclamation of 1763 created friction.More conflicts would soon arise between Britainand the colonists in North America.

Examining Why were manycolonists angered by the Proclamation of 1763?

HISTORY

Student Web ActivityVisit taj.glencoe.com andclick on Chapter 4Student Web Activitiesfor an activity on theFrench and Indian War.

Geography From memory, draw amap of North America. Show theland claims of Great Britain,France, and Spain after the Treatyof Paris.

Trouble on the FrontierThe British victory over the French dealt a

blow to the Native Americans of the Ohio Rivervalley. They had lost their French allies and trad-ing partners. Although they continued to tradewith the British, the Native Americans regardedthem as enemies. The British raised the prices oftheir goods and, unlike the French, refused topay the Native Americans for the use of theirland. Worst of all, British settlers began movinginto the valleys of western Pennsylvania.

Pontiacs WarPontiac, chief of an Ottawa village near

Detroit, recognized that the British settlers threat-ened the Native American way of life. Just asBenjamin Franklin had tried to bring the coloniestogether with the Albany Plan, Pontiac wanted tojoin Native American groups to fight the British.

In the spring of 1763, Pontiac put together analliance. He attacked the British fort at Detroitwhile other war parties captured most of theother British outposts in the Great Lakes region.That summer Native Americans killed settlersalong the Pennsylvania and Virginia frontiers ina series of raids called Pontiacs War.

The Native Americans, however, failed tocapture the important strongholds of Niagara,Fort Pitt, and Detroit. The war ended in

Checking for Understanding1. Key Terms Use the terms alliance

and speculator in a short paragraphto explain their meaning.

2. Reviewing the Facts Name the threenations that were involved in theSeven Years War.

Reviewing Themes3. Individual Action How did Pontiac

plan to defend Native Americansfrom British settlers? Was his plansuccessful?

Critical Thinking4. Analyzing Information What did

the British hope to gain by issuingthe Proclamation of 1763?

5. Analyzing Information Whatactions do you think General Brad-dock could have taken to increase hisarmys chances of defeating theFrench? Re-create the diagram belowto organize your answer.

Analyzing Visuals6. Geography Skills Study the map of

the French and Indian War on page123. What was the result of the battleat Fort Duquesne? What route didBritish General Wolfe take to reachQuebec?

CHAPTER 4 The Colonies Grow 125

Other strategies and tactics

August 1765, after Britishtroops defeated Pon-tiacs allies, the Shawneeand Delaware people.In July 1766, Pontiacsigned a peace treatyand was pardoned bythe British.

GeographyThe Proclamation of 1763

To prevent more fighting, Britain called a haltto the settlers westward expansion. In the Procla-mation of 1763, King George III declared that theAppalachian Mountains were the temporarywestern boundary for the colonies. The procla-mation angered many people, especially thosewho owned shares in land companies. Thesespeculators, or investors, had already boughtland west of the mountains. They were furiousthat Britain ignored their land claims.

Although the end of the French and IndianWar brought peace for the first time in manyyears, the Proclamation of 1763 created friction.More conflicts would soon arise between Britainand the colonists in North America.

Examining Why were manycolonists angered by the Proclamation of 1763?

HISTORY

Student Web ActivityVisit taj.glencoe.com andclick on Chapter 4Student Web Activitiesfor an activity on theFrench and Indian War.

Geography From memory, draw amap of North America. Show theland claims of Great Britain,France, and Spain after the Treatyof Paris.

http://taj.glencoe.com