The French and Indian War

Class Activity Use the map provided to identify the

extent of the Spanish, French, & British colonial control in North America by 1750

North America 17541754

Key Preview Questions

1. Which nation on the map had the “best” colonies? Why?

2. Based on the map, what problems might arise among the European powers?

3. How should these nations work out their differences?

North America 17541754

Britain & France went to war 3 times in Europe from 1690-1750

These wars in Europe meant that their colonists would fight too

Both nations used mercantilism

to expand their colonial

claims in order to increase

their wealth

By 1750, Britain & France had become serious rivals because:

During the 1700s, both the British & French

colonies were growing

Land disputes along the Ohio River Valley led to

the French & Indian War

The growth of the British & French colonies impacted Indians too:

The French increased their alliances with

Native Americans along the Ohio River Valley

The spread of British colonists

into the backcountry &

across the Appalachian

Mountains led to numerous

Indian conflicts

Indians grew increasingly concerned about British colonists filling into the backcountry

New settlementNew settlement

In 1754, colonists from across the British colonies

met at the Albany Congress to discuss the common

problem of Indian attacks

Benjamin Franklin proposed the

Albany Plan of Union for a coordinated colonial army

The plan was not approved

The colonists lacked the unity to solve a common problem

Ben Franklin’s “Albany Plan of Union”America’s 1America’s 1stst political cartoon political cartoon

Turning Point: 1754

Washington’s troops were forced to retreat from Fort Duquesne; This clash proved to be the

beginning of the French & Indian War

In 1754, VA governor sent 22 year old George Washington to protect an Ohio Company claim

The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Britain & the North American colonists vs France, their colonists,

& Indian allies

The war started in North America (1754-1763), but became part of a larger, “world” war called the Seven Years War (1756-1763)

due to competition among empires

Battle Scene of the French and Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763)Britain was losing during the early years of the war

The colonists saw this war as another European conflict & did not help fight or raise taxes as much

as England expected But, in 1757, British

Prime Minister William Pitt issued

a “blank check” to win the war

North America 17541754 North America 17631763

The war officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763France lost Canada, most of its empire in India,

& claims to lands east of the Mississippi River

England gained all French lands in Canada & exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade

Spain got all lands west of the Mississippi River,

New Orleans, but lost Florida to England

Closure Activity

Use the map provided to

identify the areas under Spanish,

French, & British control after the French & Indian War (by 1763)

North America 17631763

Key Review Questions

1. How did winning the French & Indian War set up Britain as the dominant economic power in the world?

2. What effect might this victory have on British mercantilism?

3. How might this war impact the British colonists? Indians?

North America 17631763

How was 1763 How was 1763 a “turning point” a “turning point”

in American history?in American history?Situational Role Play Activity

Situation #1Situation #1According to the

Treaty of Paris in 1763 that ended the French & Indian War, the French have no more

colonies in North America (except Haiti in the Caribbean)

Situation #2Situation #2

After the end of the French & Indian War,

Parliament decided to leave the British army in North America

Situation #3Situation #3

The costs of winning the French & Indian War left the British Empire in severe debt that it now

must pay off: British national debt, 1755: £74.6 million British national debt, 1764: £129.6 million

North America 17631763 The French & Indian War changed the relationship

between Britain & the American colonists

Colonists were excited about the possibility

of new land in the west now that the French

were gone

Colonists learned new guerilla fighting tactics

from the Indians

William Pitt’s “blank check” led to huge war debts

Parliament expected colonists to help pay

off these debts

More decisions would now be made by British Parliament

North America 17631763 Other problems strained the relationship between

Britain & the colonists after the war:

The expensive British army was not removed

from AmericaThe Ottawa Indians, led by Chief Pontiac,

attacked frontier settlers who flooded into the Ohio Valley

Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763Britain had to spend more money defending colonists in the frontier

Proclamation of 1763

After Pontiac’s Rebellion, the British Parliament

created the Proclamation Line of

1763Forbade colonists from

moving across the Appalachian Mountains

Colonists were mad because this limited their ability to gain new land

Colonists were mad that this decision was made by Parliament & not in

colonial assemblies

The French & Indian War brought an end to

salutary neglect & began parliamentary

sovereignty

English officials assumed that

Parliament must have ultimate authority

over ALL laws & taxes

The British began governing their

colonies more strictly

“Parliament has the authority to rule”

The end of salutary neglect

New taxes & laws were passed without

asking colonial assemblies

As Britain assumed more control,

the colonists tried to hang onto the power of their

colonial assemblies

This shift would prove to be the beginning of the long road towards colonial independence

Closure Activity■ In groups, summarize the following:

–As a result of the French & Indian War, how have things changed? Why was the war such a “turning point”?

–From the British gov’t perspective, why are these changes necessary?

–From the colonial perspective, why are these changes difficult to handle?

How was 1763 a“turning point”

in the British-colonial relationship?

Perceptions of the War■Colonial viewsColonial views:

–Colonies could be very strong when they worked together

–Newly gained frontier presented opportunities for wealth & land

–Colonists learned how to fight■English viewsEnglish views:

–Americans were slow to organize & balked at helping raise money even to protect their own lands

British-American TensionsBritish-American TensionsColonialsColonials BritishBritish

Fighting Fighting MethodsMethods

Indian-style Indian-style guerilla guerilla attacksattacks

Marching in Marching in formationformation

Military Military OrganizationOrganization

Militias led Militias led by captainsby captains

British officers British officers in charge of in charge of

colonialscolonials

FinancesFinances Resistant to Resistant to rising taxes rising taxes

Colonists should Colonists should help pay for their help pay for their

own defenseown defense

Effects of the War on Britain?■The war increased England’s

colonial empire in North America■But, the Pitt’s “blank check”

greatly enlarged England’s debt■Britain’s contempt for the

colonials created bitter feelings

■As a result, English leaders felt that a major reorganization of its American empire was necessary!

Effects of the War on Americans?■The 1760s were an affluent &

optimistic “post-war” period:

–The French & Indian War united the colonists against a common enemy for the 1st time

–Most colonists considered themselves proud members of England’s empire with little (if any) thought of independence

Eroding Bonds of the Empire

Parliamentary Sovereignty ■In 1760, George III became king

& began a new colonial attitude: Parliamentary SovereigntyParliamentary Sovereignty

–English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority over ALL laws & taxes

–The colonists tried to reserve the colonial authority for their own legislatures

“No Taxation Without Representation”

■The colonists assumed that their assemblies were quasi-equal to Parliament because they had no Parliamentary representatives

■British officials countered with “virtual representationvirtual representation” argument

■The colonists insisted that only their colonial assemblies could tax Americans

Parliament represents ALL British citizens no matter where they live

Two Theories of Representation

■What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies?

■How could the colonies accept the decisions of Parliament when they did not have representation in that governmental body?

AbsoluteAbsolute??

OR OR Limited?Limited?

Eroding the Bonds of Empire■After the Seven Years War,

everyone expected George to remove British army from America (French were no longer a threat)

■But…this large, expensive army was not removed –British citizens were not happy

because they had to pay for it–Colonists doubted the army’s

ability to defend against Indians

Pontiac’s War■Backcountry natives banded

together to repel white frontier settlers during Pontiac’s WarPontiac’s War:–Indian successes exposed the

British army’s weakness–Attacks revealed desperation of

Native Americans after the withdrawal of their French allies

–Colonials took matters into their own hands (Paxton Boys in PA)

English colonists flooded across the Appalachian Mountains:

“There’s all this land & no French!!”

Fort DetroitPontiac’s Rebellion, 1763

■ Chief Pontiac led the Ottawa & other tribes against colonists due to:–The flood of colonists into Ohio Country –British “gifts” of smallpox-infected

blankets from Fort Pitt

Retaliatory attacks by frontier colonists (like the Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania) were common

The Proclamation of 1763■In response to Pontiac’s War, the

British government established the Proclamation Line of 1763Proclamation Line of 1763:–This law forbade colonists from

settling across the Appalachian Mountains (for their own protection)

–Americans viewed the line as an obstruction to their “legitimate economic development”

North North AmericAmeric

a in a in 17631763

North North AmericAmeric

a in a in 17631763

New Political Ideas■The introduction of Parliamentary

sovereignty contradicted England’s original policy of salutary neglect–The influx of new political ideas of

the European Enlightenment began to impact colonial thought (especially those of John Locke)

–While no colonists were thinking of independence by 1763, many became committed to “natural rights” & opposed to “tyranny”

All gov’ts are susceptible to corruption, tyranny, & intrusion upon citizens’ liberty

“Virtuous” citizens must fight tyranny

Conclusions:Rule Britannia?

Rule Britannia? ■Despite the mounting tensions

between the English government & American colonists by 1763, most Americans were loyal “brothers” to England due of:–a shared British culture–dependence upon British

consumer goods–shared nationalism after British

military victories against France

Crash Course #5