Standard 3: Causes of the American Revolution

Tension in the New World

French & Indian War Notes(1754-1763)

Worlds Colliding in North America

In the mid-1700s, these groups struggled for control of North America.

The British

The French

The colonists

The American Indians

European Rivalsin North AmericaGreat Britain,

France, & Spain all had North American colonies.

The claims of each North American power overlapped.

IMPERIALISMIn 1740s, both French

and English interested in Ohio River Valley

The river gave the French quicker access to the Mississippi River, which led south to Louisiana & had rich, fertile soil.

British fur traders and land speculators also claimed territory in the region

IMPERIALISM

- the practice of extending the power, control or rule by one country over areas outside its borders

- (Example: France wanted to extend its control of the fur trade in the New World, British wanted to secure more land in the New World)

FRENCH & INDIAN WARFrench built Fort Duquesne to

block British claims to the region

In 1754, Governor of Virginia called on a young George Washington to expel the French with a militia armyWashington & his militia set up an

outpost 40 miles away from Fort Duquesne called Fort Necessity

Washington met resistance and was forced to surrender

This is the beginning of the war

FRENCH & INDIAN WAR

Representatives from the colonies met at the Albany Conference in June 1754- Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan

of Union – called for the colonies to unite under one federal government

- Plan was rejected, but effort proved that colonies were beginning to consider uniting for common defense

FRENCH & INDIAN WAROne year after his defeat, Washington

heads into battle again, but this time as an aide to the British to drive the French out of the Ohio Valley.

The French & their Native American allies ambushed the British causing them to flee.

Washington showed courage, but weaknesses in the British army caused many colonists to question their competence.

FRENCH & INDIAN WAROther Native American tribes joined the

French forcesFor 2 years, the French and their Native

American allies battled the British1756: war spreads to Europe - Seven

Years’ War

French & Indian War = Seven Years War

FRENCH & INDIAN WAR

William Pitt, a British politician, sent troops to North America & took over control of the British troops They began winning battles & the Iroquois

decided to support them.The Iroquois were also interested in fighting

rivals Native tribes that were fighting with the French

Quebec seized by the British in 1761 – turning point of war in North America

TREATY OF PARIS, 1763

War finally ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris

French power eliminated in North America

Spain surrendered control of Florida in exchange for Cuba and the Philippines(because Spain entered the war late to try to help the

French)

French gave control of New Orleans and all of western Louisiana to Spain

PRE-Treaty of Paris POST-Treaty of Paris

COLONIAL DISCONTENT

British borrowed enormous amounts of money to finance the French and Indian War

Officials wanted the colonies to pay for part of the war

New financial policies upset the colonists and set the two sides on a path towards confrontation

NATIVE AMERICAN DISCONTENT

1763: Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa people, led a war against the British

Native Americans attacked forts and towns along the Western frontier

Why would the Native Americans join together and attack the British frontier?

PROCLAMATION OF 1763

British could not afford another warSolution: Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited westward expansion beyond an imaginary line extending along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains

This enraged farmers and land speculators who wanted to expand in search of more land

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How did the Proclamation of 1763 put Great Britain and the colonies on a direct path to confrontation?

2. What did the British gain from their victory in the French and Indian War?

3. Who fought alongside the French in the French and Indian War?

4. What was the significance of the Albany Plan of Union?