THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

UNIT III: CH. 4

THE DUEL FOR NORTH AMERICA

CLASH OF EMPIRES1775 – interior of North America still controlled by Indian

peoplesOhio River Valley essential for both British and French

British - Moving westwardFrench – link Canadian holding w/ lower Mississippi

(1749) Brits already “occupied” that territoryGovernor Dinwiddie formed Ohio Company obtained royal

grant of 200,000 acres along upper Ohio RiverFrench built Fort Duquesne in modern day PittsburghVA gov. sent militia to evict the FrenchFired the 1st shots; French retreated/ returned to surround

WashingtonMilitia: a group of ordinary citizens who performed military duty

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

• George Washington, 22 years old, led the militia. Held stock in Ohio Co.

• Established Fort Necessity about 40 miles from Fort Duquesne

• May, Washington attacked first leading to several other battles

• French won most of them• Beginning of the French and Indian War (7

Years War, from 1754-1763)– Undeclared until 1756

• 4th war between Brits and French over America

ALBANY CONGRESS1754 summoned by British government (Board of

trade) – shore up an alliance with the Iroquois NationsIntercolonial – 7 of 13 showedShort term –

Request the Iroquois tribes to be loyal to the Brits in the spreading warWanted permanent continental assemblyNEITHER GOAL HAPPENED

Long term – achieve greater colonial unity and thus bolster the common defense against France

Benjamin Franklin – scheme for colonial home ruleDelegates approvedColonials and London regime did not

FEARED colonial collaboration would undermine Brits authority

ALBANY PLAN – A PLAN OF UNION

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR - PITT

• American launched a full scale invasion of Canada in 1756 under General Braddock– Failed at making anything happen

• William Pitt, successful statesman in London government later Secretary of State in England– Re-strategized British tactics• Young leaders• Concentrate in Quebec/Montreal area

• Led to significant British victories over France and eventually entire victory

TREATY OF PARIS 1763Fall of Quebec and Montreal in 1760 = conquest of

Canada completeWar officially ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris of

1763Brits claimed all land east of the Mississippi River and FL

from Spain Spain gained French lands west of the Miss. River in

compensation for aid during warFrance controlled only a few small islands

POWER THROWN COMPLETELY OFF OF NORTH AMERICA

Native Americans NOT included in negotiations***RESULT: GREAT BRITAIN WON CLASH OF EMPIRES IN

NORTH AMERICA

LAND CLAIMS EMPIRES1754; 1763

RESULT FOR NATIVESCould no longer play empires off one another –

expansion of Brits into NA territory great threatPontiac’s RebellionOttawa chief Pontiac led uprising in 1763

1763 - Tried to push British out of Ohio River Valley w/ uprising of local tribes

Wiped a lot out until…SMALLPOX BLANKETS!!!!

Brits regained control and signed peace agreement w/ NA

Reserved land West of Apps for NAStabilize the situation on the frontier

RESULT FOR COLONIALS

• Increased confidence in military• Fought toe to toe with British redcoats• Showed weaknesses of British• Bolstered trade with foreign

governments• Felt they were owed gratitude – didn’t

earn land after war• Growth of colonial unity

PROCLAMATION OF 1763Prohibited settlement in the area beyond the

Appalachians, pending further adjustmentsBarred Anglo settlement west of Appalachians to avoid border

disputes

Work out the Indian problem fairly and prevent another bloody eruption

Americans were dismayed and angered – they just won the war for this!

Sparked defiant reaction from settlers and land speculators