BackgroundBackground

English colonies were looking to expand into the Ohio River Valley

The valley was claimed by the French who built major fortifications

Britain and France had been mortal enemies for centuries

British troops marched into the valley and demanded that the French surrender territory in May 1754

Background (cont.)Background (cont.)

The British troops were lead by Lieutenant Colonel George Washington

The troops got stuck in the mud near Fort Duquesne in western Pennsylvania Washington built a makeshift fort he called

Fort Necessity

Washington was forced to surrender

He was allowed to go back to Virginia with his army and a surrender document

This mistake by Washington started the first World War – The Seven Years War

The Surrender at Fort Necessity

The WarThe War

The French and Indian War was fought all over the world, mostly in Europe and America

Indians fought along side the French

Britain sent 45,000 troops to America

These troops were possibly the best supplied and most mobile force in military history

France sent a mere 6,000 troops

British VictoriesBritish Victories

Quebec - September 18, 1759

Montreal – September 8, 1760

Treaty of Paris, 1763: In effect, France was removed from North America

Britain became the undisputed world leader

ConsequencesConsequences

Britain spent a tremendous amount of money – virtually broke

Colonial militias gained valuable battle experience

Taxes in the colonies rose substantially Prime Minister William Pitt believed that the

burden of paying for the war should fall mostly on the colonists