The French and Indian War (1754-63)

The Final Colonial War

England vs. France• Both sought control of

Europe + commercial supremacy

• Colonial wars part of larger conflicts in Europe

• Fought mainly at sea & in colonies

• Ohio Valley - main area of conflict

Ohio Valley Claims• English, French, & Indians

had competing land claims in lands west of Appalachians

• VA formed Ohio Co. & speculated in land & fur trade–Competing w/ France for

Indian fur trade

• French built chain of forts to halt English expansion - extended into PA territory

French and Indian War

• VA colonial militia under Col. George Washington sent to evict French forces (1754)

• Built Fort Necessity near strategic French Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh)

• Washington forced to abandon Necessity facing superior French troops (7/4/1754)

• Indian support faded w/ loss

Albany Conference of 1754

• Delegates of 7 colonies met w/ Iroquois chiefs to discuss mutual defense

• Plan of colonial union proposed by Franklin

• A Grand Council would oversee defense, Indian relations, trade, taxation & westward expansion

• Would have a royally appointed executive with veto power

Albany Plan cont.

• 1st plan of Inter-Colonial Union

• Albany Plan rejected by colonies & Parliament

• England feared colonies would become too strong

• Colonies refused to surrender control over own taxation

–Even in face of real danger

Early British Failures

• Braddock underestimated French & unfamiliar w/ wilderness warfare

• 1755 - French & Indians ambushed Braddock’s force of British & Colonial soldiers near Ft. Duquesne

• 900 incl. Braddock die vs. 23 French - Washington leads survivors home

• 1756 - Montcalm (FR) invades NY

British Failures cont.• Most British regulars

committed to European fighting

• Bulk of early fighting done by colonial militia

• Poorly coordinated - gave French & Indian allies an early advantage

• Only early British victory was in Nova Scotia (1755) - expelled the Acadians

French Advantage

• Anglo-Americans outnumbered French forces 20:1 but were ill-trained

• Colonies resisted providing more troops

• Most enlisted for short time

• French well-trained & led

• Fought hard

• Canadians recruited in large numbers

The Tide Turns• 1757 - English Prime

Minister William Pitt took control of fighting forces

• Sent troops, able leaders & supplies

• Greater support for war in England & colonies

• Raised # of colonial troops by promising that England would pay for the war

• 21K colonial troops in 1758

British Offensives

• Led by British generals Jeffrey Amherst & James Wolfe

• Amherst took Ft. Duquesne & Louisbourg in 1758–Louisbourg guards entrance to

St. Lawrence River

• Drive French from northern NY & Lake Ontario region in 1759

British-American invasion of Canada

• Turning point of the war

• 1759 - Wolfe captured Quebec -Capital of New France & a military stronghold

–Decisive battle of the war

–Montcalm & Wolfe killed

• 1760 - Montreal fell, effectively ending French resistance

Map 5.1: The Seven Year’s War in America

Treaty of Paris of 1763• France cedes Canada to

England

• England gave French back the islands of Guadaloupe & Martinique + 1/2 of Hispanola

• France gave Spain New Orleans & all land west of Miss. River

• England kept Florida

• Havana & Manila returned to Spain

• England took India

Map 5.2: European Powers in North America 1763

Results and Consequences of the War

For England:

• England dominant in N. Am.

• National debt in England doubled as a result of the war

• Parliament looked to the colonies for additional money

–Would begin to tax colonies for the purpose of raising $

• Wanted Americans to pay 1/3 of cost of their defense

Results & ConsequencesFor the Colonies:

• French threat removed–Colonists less dependent on

England for defense

• Valuable military experience for soldiers–Learned importance of unity

& cooperation

• Colonials resent change in economic & trade policy

• English ideas, language, & institutions survive

Residual Friction• Colonists resented lack of

credit given to militias

• British officers complained about quality of militia men & lack of civilian support

–e.g. supplying food & shelter

• Colonist resented arrogance of British officers

• British citizens resented higher taxes to pay for war–Pitt promised to cover cost

Residual Friction

• Colonial expansion into west angered Indians

• Some (e.g. Pontiac) led anti-British movements

• Attacked frontier forts

–Fighting cost England $

• Indians eventually make peace

• Brit govt. issued Proclamation of 1763 to appease Indians

Proclamation of 1763• England took control of

western lands

–Settlement, trade, etc

• Goal - organize expansion

• Recognized Indian claims west of proclamation line

• Colonist thought they needed western land to prosper

• Saw British troops who enforced Proc. Line as hindering needed expansion

English Civil War - 1642

StuartRestoration - 1660

RelativeColonial Autonomy

Imperial Control

Dominion of New England1686-89

Edmund Andros Colonial Resistance

Glorious Revolution1689 End of

DominionProtestant Monarchy

English MilitaryAssistance inColonial Wars

Increased Colonial Satisfaction with &

Reliance on England

Colonial Allegiance Tied To Events In England

Restoration Colonies

Navigation Acts - 1660’s

King William’s War - 1689-97

Queen Anne’s War - 1701-13

King George’s War - 1744-48