Post on 02-Oct-2020
The Duel for North America
1608 – 1763
The Struggle for North America
Late 1600s – England, France, and Spain fight for control of New World Native Americans swept up into battles as well
1688 – 1763 – 4 world wars fought Struggle to the death for domination of Europe
and America Last of these (Seven Years’ War) led to
American independence from Britain
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
France was latecomer to colonization 1500s – France dealt with foreign wars and conflict
between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572) – 10,000 Protestants
murdered 1598 – Edict of Nantes
Crown granted limited toleration to French Protestants 1600s – French became one of the strongest countries in
Europe Powerful King Louis XIV (ruled 1643 – 1715) took strong
interest in New World
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
1608 – France established colony in Quebec on St. Lawrence River Led by Samuel de Champlain (“Father of New
France”) Champlain befriended Huron Indians
Fought Huron enemy, the Iroquois Iroquois stopped French colonization of Ohio Valley
and fought as allies with British against French
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
Government in New France (Canada) Came under control of king, after private
companies failed King’s rule completely autocratic
No elected assemblies, no right to trial by bury
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
Slow population growth in New France 1750 – only 60,000 whites in New France Peasants in France owned land (unlike landless tenant
farmers in England) and had no reason to leave France Protestants in France had no reason to move to New
France because they were denied refuge there French government favored Caribbean island colonies
over Canada
Zones of Empire, 1700
New France Fans Out
Beaver hunting Beaver hats fashionable in
Europe French fur-trappers (coureurs
de bois – “runners of the woods”) trapped beavers and lived hard (drinking, spending)
New France Fans Out
French fur-trappers got Indians to trap furs and then trade to the whites Huge drawbacks for Indians
Decimated by white diseases Addicted to alcohol Killing beaver violated Indian religious beliefs
(example of European wrecking of Indian traditional life)
New France Fans Out
French and Indian fur-trappers traveled deep into North America Across Canada, through present-day US, to
Spanish Texas Killed almost all beaver in some areas, inflicting
incalculable ecological damage
Fur-Trading Posts
New France Fans Out
French Catholic missionaries Worked to convert Indians to Christianity
(especially Jesuits) Few permanent converts, but played important
role as explorers and geographers
New France Fans Out
French empire builders 1701 – Antione Cadillac founded Detroit to stop
English settlers pushing into Ohio Valley 1682 – Robert de La Salle sailed down
Mississippi River to Gulf of Mexico Named area “Louisiana” in honor of Louis XIV Returned to Gulf of Mexico in 1685; did not find
Mississippi and was murdered in a mutiny
Zones of Empire,
1700
New France Fans Out
French built forts on Mississippi to stop Spanish expansion 1718 – most important was New Orleans
Controlled mouth of Mississippi River Controlled shipping of beaver down Mississippi to
Europe
New France Fans Out
French established several forts and trading posts in Illinois Became important for France as grain-producing
area, shipped to French West Indies or Europe
The Clash of Empires
King William’s War (1689 – 1697) Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713) In both, British colonists mainly fought
French fur-trappers (coureurs de bois) Both sides recruited whatever Indians they could British and French did not think New World was
worth large numbers of troops, so both sides fought primitive guerilla warfare
The Clash of Empires
Important battles, 1689 – 1713 French attacked British settlements at Schenectady, New
York and Deerfield, Massachusetts Spanish (allied with France) attacked South Carolina
settlements British failed miserably at attacking Quebec and
Montreal Important British victory at stronghold of Port Royal in
Acadia (Nova Scotia)
Scenes of the French WarsArrows Indicate French-Indian Attacks
The Clash of Empires
1713 – peace treaty signed at Utrecht (Netherlands) Showed how badly French and Spanish had been beaten Britain gained Acadia (renamed Nova Scotia – New
Scotland), Newfoundland, and Hudson Bay Pinched French St. Lawrence settlements, foreshadowing their
ultimate doom Began decades of “salutary neglect” toward American
colonies – leading ultimately to their desire for independence
British Territory
After Two Wars, 1713
The Clash of Empires
British won trading rights in Spanish America as result of 1713 Treaty of Utrecht Led to problems over British smuggling to get
around Spanish revenue laws British captain Jenkins came across Spanish
authorities Spanish had an ear sliced off; told to take it back to
the king, and tell him that Spain would do same to the king if he was there
The Clash of Empires
1739 – War of Jenkin’s Ear Limited war between British and Spanish in
Caribbean Sea and Georgia 1740 – 1748 – King George’s War
War of Jenkin’s Ear merged into this war France allied with Spain against Britain
The Clash of Empires
American colonists and British fleet took Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island Controlled entrance to St. Lawrence River
Peace treaty in 1748 gave Louisbourg back to France New Englanders outraged
Made their sacrifice seem pointless and allowed France to keep control of colony in America
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
Mid 1700s – fertile Ohio Valley became primary area of fighting between France and British colonists Westward moving British colonists wanted to push into
Ohio Valley France wanted to link holdings in Mississippi Valley and
Canada British colonists now willing to fight French to protect
their economic security Worried about French land-grabbing and competition in fur-trade
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
1749 – competition for Ohio Valley led to open conflict British – Virginian land speculators secured
shaky rights to 500,000 acres French – building chain of forts controlling Ohio
Valley Fort Duquesne build at point where Monongahela and
Allegheny Rivers meet to for m the Ohio River (now site of Pittsburgh)
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
1754 – George Washington sent to Ohio as lieutenant colonel, commanding about 150 men Came upon small French force, British attacked, killing
the French leader Washington built Fort Necessity French arrived with reinforcements, surrounded Fort
Necessity, and forced Washington to surrender
The Ohio Country,
1753–1754
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
1755 – British in Nova Scotia uprooted Acadians and scattered them in Louisiana to prevent uprising, now that war had started Acadians now called “Cajuns” in South
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War) Was started in America by Washington’s actions
in Ohio Previous 3 world wars had been started in Europe first
1754 – 1756 – undeclared war in America 1756 – 1763 – the Seven Years’ War fought in
Europe, West Indies, Philippines, Africa, ocean
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Seven Years’ War in Europe Britain and Prussia against France, Spain,
Austria, Russia Most fighting in Germany; Frederick the Great
repelled French, Austrian, Russian armies French wasted strength in Europe; unable to
attack adequately in America
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Fighting in America Previous wars had seen America disunited;
colonies closest to fighting furnished many more volunteers than colonies further away
Global War and Colonial Disunity
1754 – Albany Congress British called inter-colonial conference in
Albany, New York Only 7 of 13 colonies came Purposes
Get the Iroquois to fight with British (given 30 wagonloads of gifts)
Get greater colonial unity to fight France
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Ben Franklin and the Albany Congress Drew most famous cartoon of colonial era – Join,
or Die Prematurely pushed to use Albany Congress as
beginning of home rule in America
Join, or Die
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Results of the Albany Congress Albany delegates universally adopted plan for
unity Rejected by individual colonies and British
government Colonies thought plan did not give them enough
independence British government thought plan gave colonies too
much independence
Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath
Early French and Indian War went badly for British
English General Braddock sent with British soldiers to America
1755 – Braddock and 2,000 men marched to capture Fort Duquesne Some of his men were undisciplined colonist
militiamen
Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath
Braddock’s forces moved slowly to Fort Duquesne, dragging artillery and hacking through forests
A few miles from Duquesne, Braddock encountered smaller French and Indian force At first British drove French and Indians back French and Indians then retreated, hid in thickets, and
attacked and badly defeated British forces Braddock killed; Washington had 2 horses killed and several
bullets in his jacket
Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath
Indians now go on rampage from Pennsylvania to North Carolina Entire area left undefended by Braddock’s defeat Washington with only 300 men tried
unsuccessfully to defend huge area
Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath
1756 – British invaded French Canada Now undeclared war in America a worldwide
war Unwisely attacked many outposts instead of
concentrating on Montreal and Quebec If those 2 cities had fallen, the smaller outposts would
have fallen because of lack of supplies British experienced continuous defeats in
America and Europe
Pitt’s Palms of Victory
Great leader – William Pitt – in British government finally brought success Concentrated on Canada (Quebec-Montreal) and
withdrew from West Indies, where British had been spending strength without victory
Picked young, competent leaders; bypassing old, cautious generals
Pitt’s Palms of Victory
1758 – powerful British attacked Louisbourg Strong fortress fell after siege First significant victory of entire war
The Anglo-American Conquest of New France, 1754-1760
Pitt’s Palms of Victory
1759 – Battle of Quebec British attack led by James Wolfe Secret move in night up poorly guarded rocky projection
protecting Quebec Next morning, both armies faced each other on Plains of
Abraham, outside of Quebec French defeated and Quebec surrendered
1760 – Montreal fell End of France in Canada
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Anglo-American Conquest of New France, 1754-1760
Pitt’s Palms of Victory
Treaty of Paris (1763) established Britain as dominant power in North America French removed from North America French population left; still strong minority in Canada French allowed to keep several small, valuable islands in
Caribbean and 2 small fishing islands in Gulf of St. Lawrence
France gave to Spain (to compensate their ally for their losses) Louisiana and New Orleans
Spain gave Britain Florida Britain gave Spain Cuba (Havana had fallen to British
during war)
North America Before 1754
North America
After 1763 (after
French losses)
North America, Before and After the French and Indian War
Restless Colonists
Colonists had increased confidence in their military strength (having fought with the British) and their military had gained valuable experience
Myth of British military invincibility shattered at Braddock’s defeat
Friction between British officers and colonial militiamen British viewed colonists with contempt; colonists wanted
respect and recognition of their contribution
Restless Colonists
Colonial shipping during the war Shippers (using fake papers) shipped food and
supplies to enemy ports in Spanish and French West Indies
British authorities forced to ban export of all supplies from New England and middle colonies
Restless Colonists
Some colonies had refused to provide troops or money during war Not until Pitt offered to reimburse the colonies for
expenses did they unite financially behind the war Made British (who fought to protect colonists from
French and Indians) bitter Also brought up question of unity of colonies – if they
would not unite to defeat immediate enemy, would they ever unite to fight Britain?
Restless Colonists
Causes of colonial disunity Enormous distances Geographical barriers Conflicting religions Nationalities Different types of colonial governments Boundary disputes Resentment of backcountry against elites
Restless Colonists
Unity also increased during war Meeting others from different colonies, led
colonists to realize they had much in common Disunity began to melt, although more was
needed before independence
War’s Fateful Aftermath
Increased colonial independence Colonists had to only confront weaker Indians,
now that strong French were gone from northwest
French hoped one day British would lose America to independence (as revenge for loss of Canada)
War’s Fateful Aftermath
Spanish and Indians weakened Spain removed from Florida
Although still controlling New Orleans, Louisiana, and western 1/2 of present-day US
Indians lost most powerful tool – ability to play off rival European powers against each other Indians would now have to negotiate exclusively with
British
War’s Fateful Aftermath
1763 – Pontiac’s Rebellion Drive to remove British from Ohio Country Overran all but 3 British posts west of Appalachians
2,000 soldiers and settlers killed British counterattacked and crushed the rebellion
Included sending smallpox-infected blankets to Indians Convinced British of need for stabile relations with
Indians and need to keep troops on western border (for which colonists would be asked to pay)
Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763
War’s Fateful Aftermath
1763 – colonists free to cross Appalachian mountains and settle western lands
Proclamation of 1763 British government prohibited white settlement
west of Appalachian Mountains Not designed to oppress colonists, but work out
problems with Indians and prevent another uprising like Pontiac’s Rebellion
Settled Areas at End of
French and Indian War, 1763 and the Proclamation
of 1763
War’s Fateful Aftermath
Colonial reaction to the Proclamation of 1763 Angry because they felt they had fought French
for right to move west Many moved west in defiance of British