The French and The French and Indian WarIndian War

Chapter 3 section 4Chapter 3 section 4

• In the early 1500s, the French began to explore North In the early 1500s, the French began to explore North America. Jacques Cartier discovered and named the St. America. Jacques Cartier discovered and named the St. Lawrence River. He then followed it to the site of what he Lawrence River. He then followed it to the site of what he would claim for France and name Montreal.would claim for France and name Montreal.

• In 1608, In 1608, Samuel de Champlain Samuel de Champlain founded the town of Quebecfounded the town of Quebec.. The The first permanent French settlement in North Americafirst permanent French settlement in North America. .

• In the next 100 In the next 100 years, the French years, the French explored and explored and claimed claimed the area the area around the Great around the Great Lakes and the Lakes and the Mississippi River all Mississippi River all the way to its the way to its mouth at the Gulf mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. of Mexico. The area The area became known asbecame known as New FranceNew France. .

TheThe main activity main activity in this colony wasin this colony was trade in beaver furtrade in beaver fur. .

In In 1682, Robert Cavelier (aka1682, Robert Cavelier (aka RobertRobert dede La Salle) La Salle) , , claimedclaimed the the entire entire Mississippi Valley Mississippi Valley for Francefor France. He . He namednamed it it Louisiana in honor Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIVof King Louis XIV. By 1754, the colony of New France, had only . By 1754, the colony of New France, had only 70,000 people (compared to 1,000,000 in the British colonies).70,000 people (compared to 1,000,000 in the British colonies).

French colonists were mostly traders and Catholic Priests who wanted to French colonists were mostly traders and Catholic Priests who wanted to convert Native Americans. They did not try to build towns or raise convert Native Americans. They did not try to build towns or raise families. They had better relations with the Native Americans than the families. They had better relations with the Native Americans than the British did.British did.

France’s North France’s North American American EmpireEmpire

They relied on Native They relied on Native American tribes like American tribes like the Hurons, Ottowas, the Hurons, Ottowas, Ojibwas, and others Ojibwas, and others to do much of the to do much of the trapping.trapping.

In In 16091609, the , the French French helped the Algonquin helped the Algonquin and other Native and other Native Americans defeat Americans defeat the Mohawk Iroquois.the Mohawk Iroquois.

• The European The European powers soon powers soon began to fight for began to fight for control of North control of North America. America.

• First, the English forced the Dutch to give up their colony. New Amsterdam was renamed New York.

The The English English also also started started other other colonies colonies along the along the Atlantic Atlantic coast, coast, from New from New Hampshire Hampshire to Georgia.to Georgia.

These English colonists interfered with the French These English colonists interfered with the French settlers in Canada. The settlers in Canada. The British and the French clashed British and the French clashed over the Ohio Valley in 1754over the Ohio Valley in 1754. . The fight was called the The fight was called the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War. .

When it When it ended in 1763ended in 1763, , France was forced to give up all its land in North France was forced to give up all its land in North America to EnglandAmerica to England. . This was This was aalsolso kknownnown aass thethe 7 years War7 years War. . The fighting The fighting was not isolated to the New World, but was not isolated to the New World, but occurred across the worldoccurred across the world..

France and Britain were competing to build the world’s biggest Empire. France and Britain were competing to build the world’s biggest Empire. One area of contention was the rich Ohio River Valley. The colonists One area of contention was the rich Ohio River Valley. The colonists favored Britain because they thought of themselves as British.favored Britain because they thought of themselves as British.

The two forces would collide in 1754. The two forces would collide in 1754. The French built The French built Fort Fort DuquesneDuquesne where modern Pittsburgh is now where modern Pittsburgh is now. The British had . The British had granted 200,000 acres in the Ohio country to a group of wealthy granted 200,000 acres in the Ohio country to a group of wealthy planters. The Virginia Governor sent a militia, a group of ordinary planters. The Virginia Governor sent a militia, a group of ordinary citizens who performed military duties, to evict the French.citizens who performed military duties, to evict the French.

GeorgieGeorgie

The militia, led by The militia, led by 22 year old22 year old George George WashingtonWashington, built , built an outpost called an outpost called Fort NecessityFort Necessity about 40 miles about 40 miles from Fort from Fort Duquesne.Duquesne.

In In MayMay 17541754, , Washington’s Washington’s militia militia attacked a attacked a small detachment small detachment of French soldiersof French soldiers..

The French counter attacked and forced Washington to The French counter attacked and forced Washington to surrendersurrender. . This battle began the French Indian War for This battle began the French Indian War for the control of North America.the control of North America.

Early French Early French VictoriesVictories

A year after losing his first battle, GW went back to help British A year after losing his first battle, GW went back to help British general Edward Braddock drive the French out of Ohio. Braddock general Edward Braddock drive the French out of Ohio. Braddock and 1,500 soldiers launched an attack on Fort Duquesne. They and 1,500 soldiers launched an attack on Fort Duquesne. They were ambushed by the French and Native American allies.were ambushed by the French and Native American allies.

The British were not used to fighting people who shot at The British were not used to fighting people who shot at

them from behind trees, they were used to fighting them from behind trees, they were used to fighting people who approached them in rows. So they fled. people who approached them in rows. So they fled. Washington’s men fought well, but the British were Washington’s men fought well, but the British were defeated over and over again in 1755 and 1756.defeated over and over again in 1755 and 1756.

Pitt and the Iroquois turn the Pitt and the Iroquois turn the TideTide

Britain’s King Britain’s King George II put new George II put new leaders in charge leaders in charge to fight the to fight the French.French.

One of them was One of them was William Pitt.William Pitt.

Under Pitt, the Under Pitt, the British were able British were able to start winning to start winning battles.battles.

The Iroquois The Iroquois decided to join decided to join with them with them because of this.because of this.

In September of 1759, the war took a decisive turn on In September of 1759, the war took a decisive turn on the Plains of Abraham outside of Quebec. Under the the Plains of Abraham outside of Quebec. Under the cover of night, General James Wolfe scaled the high cover of night, General James Wolfe scaled the high cliffs that protected Quebec. He captured the French cliffs that protected Quebec. He captured the French commander by surprise.commander by surprise.

This battle led them to victory in the war. The This battle led them to victory in the war. The French and Indian French and Indian War officially ended War officially ended with the with the Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris. . Great Britain claimed Great Britain claimed all of North America East of the Mississippi River. This included all of North America East of the Mississippi River. This included Florida, which Britain acquired from Spain, an ally of France. Florida, which Britain acquired from Spain, an ally of France.

Spain Spain gained the gained the French lands French lands west of the west of the Mississippi, Mississippi, including including New New Orleans. Orleans. France kept France kept control of a control of a few small few small islands near islands near New New Foundland Foundland and the and the West Indies.West Indies.

The The Ottawa leader Ottawa leader PontiacPontiac saw the victory for the saw the victory for the British as bad news for the Native Americans. He and British as bad news for the Native Americans. He and his men his men captured eight British forts, and laid siege on captured eight British forts, and laid siege on two others.two others.

In response, British In response, British officers presented officers presented Small pox infected Small pox infected blankets to two blankets to two Deleware chiefs Deleware chiefs during peace during peace negotiations.negotiations.

The virus spread The virus spread rapidly among the rapidly among the Native Americans.Native Americans.

By 1765, most Native By 1765, most Native Americans had been Americans had been weakened by disease weakened by disease and war, and had to and war, and had to make treatise with make treatise with the British.the British.

To stop further To stop further conflicts with the conflicts with the Native Americans, Native Americans, the British issued the British issued the the Proclamation Proclamation of 1763of 1763, , which which banned banned settlement west settlement west of the of the AppalachiansAppalachians..

The British were The British were unable to enforce unable to enforce this though.this though.

British British policies policies anger anger

ColonistsColonists

During the French and Indian War, the British began During the French and Indian War, the British began cracking down on Massachusetts smugglers. In 1761, cracking down on Massachusetts smugglers. In 1761, the royal governor of Massachusetts authorized the the royal governor of Massachusetts authorized the writs of assistancewrits of assistance, which , which allowed the British soldiers to allowed the British soldiers to search any ship or building. search any ship or building. Because many merchants Because many merchants worked out of their residencies, this allowed the British worked out of their residencies, this allowed the British to search their homes. The merchants of Boston were to search their homes. The merchants of Boston were outraged.outraged.

Problems Problems Resulting Resulting from the from the

WarWar

After the war the After the war the British sent British sent 10,000 troops 10,000 troops to the territories to the territories to control Native Americans and the former French subjectsto control Native Americans and the former French subjects. . This was meant to protect the colonies, but the colonists saw This was meant to protect the colonies, but the colonists saw this as might against them. Sending these troops cost Britain this as might against them. Sending these troops cost Britain money, this added to their debt from the war, which had money, this added to their debt from the war, which had already doubled their national debt.already doubled their national debt.

To lower the debt, To lower the debt, King George III King George III hired a financial hired a financial expert, expert, George George GrenvilleGrenville, as , as Prime Prime Minister in 1763Minister in 1763..

Grenville Grenville outraged outraged the merchants the merchants when he prompted when he prompted Parliament to Parliament to enact a law known enact a law known as the Sugar Act in as the Sugar Act in 1764.1764.

The The Sugar Act did Sugar Act did three thingsthree things::

1.1. It It lowered the duty on lowered the duty on foreign made Molassesforeign made Molasses by half (so colonists by half (so colonists would not find it would not find it profitable to smuggle)profitable to smuggle)

2.2. It It placed duties on placed duties on certain importscertain imports..

3.3. It It strengthened the strengthened the enforcement of the enforcement of the law for smuggling law for smuggling casescases to be held in to be held in vice-admiralty court vice-admiralty court rather than rather than sympathetic colonial sympathetic colonial court.court.

This made the colonists This made the colonists angryangry

You won’t like me when I’m angry!You won’t like me when I’m angry!