THE BIG PICTUREThe British victory in the French and

Indian War (1754-1763) brought additional lands in the West, but significant war debts as well. To pay this debt, the British parliament moved away from salutary neglect in favor of more strict colonial control. Colonial protest to new taxes, restrictions on colonial self-government, and influence from the European Enlightenment led to a colonial Declaration of Independence in 1776. During the American Revolution, the overmatched colonists found a leader in George Washington and badly-needed French assistance after the Battle of Saratoga. When the war ended, the Treaty of Paris in 1783 brought independence and the formation of the United States.

■Essential QuestionEssential Question:

■How was 1763 (the year the French and Indian War ended) a “turning point” in the relationship between England & her American colonies?

WHY WERE THE FRENCH UNSUCCESSFUL IN CREATEING A STRONG SETTLER SOCIETY?

■1) Primary activity was Religious

■2) Government only saw minimal returns from colonization

■3) Forbade emigration of religious dissidents –Huguenots.

■4)Unable to support and fund additional exploration

French & English Mercantilist Wars

French & English Colonial Wars■The introduction of new English

mercantilist policies changed its economic & military attitude towards the colonies:–England increased protective

tariffs & trade regulations so the colonies worked for motherland

–If that failed, go to war with economic rivals & get the colonists to fight too

These regulations began with the Navigation Acts in 1660

The French & Indian War changed EVERYTHING between

England & the colonies

New mercantilist policies after the French & Indian War led to colonial

resentment & the American Revolution

French & English Colonial Wars■ A series of European conflicts

involving England & France spilled over into colonial North America:–King William’s War (1689-1697)–Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713)–War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1748)–King George's War (1743-1748)

■ These wars were based on mercantilist competition & had little political significance, but…

…these wars led to a land frenzy in the 1750s, among French & British colonists

Territorial disputes along the Ohio River sparked the French & Indian War

Westward Expansion &

Land Conflicts, 1750-1775

Turning Point: 1754■1754 proved to be a turning point

in American colonial history■In 1754, English officials &

colonists met to discuss Iroquois problems at the Albany Congress–Benjamin Franklin proposed the

Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union for a coordinated colonial army

–The plan was vetoed by colonial assemblies & Parliament

This would give the colonists too much power

The plan was too expensive & would limit each colony’s power to control its own actions

Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan of UnionAmerica’s 1America’s 1stst political cartoon political cartoon

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

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

the beginning of the French & Indian War

French & Indian War

The French & Indian War■ The war went bad for England from

1756 to 1758 – The lack of colonial unity & French alliances with Native

Americans hurt the British army from 1756 to 1758

■ In 1757, Prime Minister William Pitt took command of the military: –Used well-qualified generals–Had a “blank check” to fund the

war in America, India, & Europe–In 1758, the tide of the war turned;

England won by 1760

By 1761, By 1761, Spain Spain

became an became an ally of ally of FranceFrance

1758-1761 The Tide Turns for England

1758-1761 The Tide Turns for England

Treaty of Paris■France—lost Canada, most of its

empire in India, & claims to lands east of the Mississippi River

■Spain—got all French lands west of the Miss. River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England

■England—gained all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade, & total control of India

North America

after 1763

America in 17501750 America in 17631763

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 in British officers in charge of 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