3.4 Notes (French and Indian War)

French Empire Expands

After establishing Quebec, the French colonist claimed the entire Mississippi river valley for France, renaming it Louisiana However, by 1754, there were only 70,000 French colonist compared to over 1 million British colonist

Mississippi River Valley

Britain and France

French and Indian War (The French and Native Americans vs. Great Britain and the British Colonist)—the fourth war between Great Britain and France over control of North America

France and Britain fight three inconclusive wars in 1600s and 1700s French colony based on fur trade, allies with Native Americans

War Erupts

French build Fort Duquesne in land claimed by Virginia (Ohio Valley)French crush Virginia militia under George Washington in 17541755–1756, French and allies continue to defeat British militia

Britain Defeats an Old Enemy

William Pitt, British politician, leads Britain to victoryIroquois natives begin to help the BritishBritish troops capture Quebec in a surprise attack in 1759

Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War (1763); France gives up almost all its landGreat Britain claimed all of the land east of the Mississippi River, including Florida which GB would acquire from Spain

Changes for Native Americans

Ottawa leader, Pontiac, fears loss of land; captures British fortsBritish use smallpox as a weapon; Native Americans greatly weakened (Small Pox Blankets)Proclamation of 1763—colonists can’t settle west of Appalachians

Great Britain and the Colonies grow apart

British began to crack down on colonial smugglingSugar Act- a revenue-raising Act passed by the Parliament of Great Britain

The British Parliament believed that it was the duty of the colonist to pay back most of the war debt