The Duel for North America

1608 – 1763AP US HISMr. Love

The French Settlement

1608 – First French settlement in the New World: Quebec

Samuel de Champlain – “Father of New France” Friendly relations with Huron Indians/

enemies with the Iroquois Indians Results in Iroquois Indians joining with Great Britain Many Iroquois fought and raided French settlements

Motive was to compete with Spain & England for Empire in America

Characteristics of New France

Autocratic- under direct control of the king

No popularly elected assemblies

No trial by jury Slow population

growth – French favored the West Indies

Fur trapping- main economic pursuit Recruited Indians to

help Jesuits missionaries

played vital role as explorers/ geographers

French legacy in the Mississippi River Valley Cajuns

Characteristics of New France

How are these French different from the English? Think along the lines of settlement, government and the judicial system.

Effects on the Indians

Decimated by the white man’s diseases & debauched by alcohol “firewater”

Jesuits missionaries converted few Indians.

Many were slaughtered by the natives

Battle for Empire in the New World p. 110

England v. France v. Spain 1688–1763 - 4 bitter world wars

King William’s War & Queen Anne’s War British against the French fur trappers & their

Indian allies & eventually Spain What type of soldiers are involved? Why not use massive amounts of soldiers to

fight? British won Britain provided the colonies with a period of

“salutary neglect” - fertile soil for rebellion

Battle for Empire in the New World p. 110

Watch out! Here comes the War of Jenkins’s Ear. How does this war start and what is the result?

It ended the peace which allowed for more war to come between these nations.

Wars continued

King George’s War - 1744-48 France allied with Spain New Englanders captured the French fortress

at Louisbourg, only to have it returned to the French by the peace treaty of 1748

American colonies felt betrayed by their British masters. Why did they feel this way?

Focus of rivalry then turned to the Ohio Valley

Ohio River Valley Conflict

Key area for the French Would connect their holdings in

Canada to Mississippi Valley 1749 – Colonial speculators claimed the

land French started building forts

Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh)

Washington & War

1754 - George Washington was sent to secure Virginia’s claims

When encountering the French, the Virginians fired the first shots French leader killed, GW’s men retreated French returned with reinforcement

Surrounded Washington at Fort Necessity Washington forced to surrender after 10 hours

Results of Conflict

British authorities took action British uprooted 4000 Frenchmen in

Acadia (Nova Scotia) Many moved to Louisiana – Cajuns

Global War

French & Indian War 1756 – 1763 (Seven Years’ War) began in America/ fought in America,

Europe, West Indies, Philippines, Africa, & the ocean

French wasted so much strength in Europe, they were unable to throw an adequate force into the New World

Colonial Unity

1754- Albany Congress was held to achieve greater colonial unity & bolster the common defense Only 7 of the 13 colonies attended Immediate purpose- keep the Iroquois tribes

loyal to the British in war Franklin proposed colonial home rule

rejected by both Britain (too much independence) & the colonies (not enough independence)

Benjamin Franklin’s famous cartoon: “Join, or Die”

French & Indian War/Seven Years’ War

1755 - General Edward Braddock sent to Virginia to help with war Gathered supplies from colonists Sent with 2000 militiamen (buckskins) to

capture Fort Duquesne “Bulldog” Braddock – behind-the-tree

methods of fighting Indians

Braddock’s Blundering

Expedition moved slowly Few miles short of Fort Duquesne,

Braddock encountered French & Indian army George Washington – aide to

Braddock Braddock mortally wounded Victory for the French

Indian Attacks

Excited about victory, Indians started attacks from Pennsylvania to North Carolina

English started offering money for Indian scalps

War Continues

Early British defeats result of tactical error: attacking exposed wilderness posts

simultaneously instead of focusing completely on Montreal & Quebec

Led to defeat after defeat for Britain

William Pitt – The Great Commoner

Became British Prime Minister in 1757 and focused Britain’s efforts on the Quebec-Montreal area

Battle of Quebec 1759 Selected James Wolfe to attack Quebec

Wolfe faced Marquis de Montcalm & both were mortally wounded

French defeated & city surrendered

Victories for Britain

Louisbourg recaptured 1758 Battle of Quebec 1759

Very important victory for Britain

Montreal fell to British in 1760 Last time French flag waved in Canada

Peace Settlement at Paris1763

Results: p. 115 French thrown completely off continent of North

America Could retain small sugar islands in West Indies

Mississippi River East & Florida – England French Canada – England Trans-Mississippi Louisiana/ plus New Orleans – Spain

In return for Cuba

Great Britain was now the dominant power in North America

Ottawa Chief Pontiac 1763

Led several tribes in a campaign to drive British out of the Ohio Valley

Indians wiped out all but 3 British posts west of Appalachians

British crushed uprising Helped convince British for need to stabilize

Indian-white relations & keep troops in colonies

British/American Friction

Colonials emerged with increased confidence in their military strength & self-esteem

Myth of British invincibility was shattered British distressed by the reluctance of the

colonials to support the common cause whole heartedly

Colonials demanded the rights & privileges of Englishmen, without the duties & responsibilities of Englishmen Did not want to provide for troops during war

Effect of French defeat

Threat of the French & Indians on the frontier removed

Land hungry colonials were now free to expand westward over the Appalachian Mountains

Colonials developed a new vision of their ultimate destiny

Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited settlement in the area beyond the Appalachian Mountains

Designed to work out the Indian problems & avoid further uprisings Americans saw it as a violation of their rights Caused anger & defiance