Wars of Empire

European Competition and the Colonies

Rivalry between the French and British government over the ownership if the Ohio Valley.

The British and the French both gave gifts to the Indians to win them but the Indians tried to remain neutral (preserving the balance of power).

The Indians started to side more with the French when the British colonists continued to increase and take Indian land

Attempts to Unify

The colonial delegates came together to review Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union

The plan proposed the colonies would unite under Britain and cooperate with each other in times of war - the colonies refused to accept its provisions

French and Indian War

The “French and Indian War”, the colonial part of the “Seven Years War”

This war was a battle of the British against the French and Native Americans (French allies)

The French and Indian War

Began in 1753, when a young Virginian, Major George Washington, and a small force of Virginia militiamen marched to the Ohio Country to drive the French out.

The early battles were dominated by the French

The turning point of the war was Britain’s European blockade of French supplies The Indians deserted their French allies

The British won with the capture of Quebec

1763 Treaty of Paris

FranceFrance lost her Canadian possessions, lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India, and most of her empire in India, and claims claims to lands east of the Mississippi to lands east of the Mississippi River.River.

SpainSpain got all French lands west of the got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England.lost Florida to England.

EnglandEngland got all French lands in Canada, got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance trade, and commercial dominance in India.in India.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Native anger was understandable and was rooted in several issues: English dominance in North America

meant the construction of new forts and the movement of new settlers into traditional Indian lands.

British traders did not deal fairly with the Indians, this hurt because the natives had become dependent on European

One of the prime results of Pontiac's Rebellion was the decision of British policymakers to issue the Proclamation of 1763, a measure designed to shut down white settlement of the West.

Aftermath of the War

Although it increased Britain’s colonial empire it also greatly increased Britain’s debt

Britain developed a strong contempt for the colonials outraged with the lack of cooperation.

Wanted to keep their militia to protect their own area.

Continued to trade with the French during the war. Assemblies used war to increase their power.

Britain needed to control the Native American population Britain had to address the problem of newly acquired

land to the west

Therefore, England started imposing new taxes and laws!Therefore, England started imposing new taxes and laws!

American ColonialsAfter the War

For the first time colonists were united It created bitter feelings toward the British The colonists believed they did not need

protection from the French or natives Financially in better shape than England Colonists wanted to maintain their

legislatures and