The Duel for North America · The Struggle for North America Late 1600s – England, France, and Spain fight for control of New World Native Americans swept up into battles as well

The Duel for North America

1608 – 1763

The Struggle for North America

Late 1600s – England, France, and Spain fight for control of New World Native Americans swept up into battles as well

1688 – 1763 – 4 world wars fought Struggle to the death for domination of Europe

and America Last of these (Seven Years’ War) led to

American independence from Britain

France Finds a Foothold in Canada

France was latecomer to colonization 1500s – France dealt with foreign wars and conflict

between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572) – 10,000 Protestants

murdered 1598 – Edict of Nantes

Crown granted limited toleration to French Protestants 1600s – French became one of the strongest countries in

Europe Powerful King Louis XIV (ruled 1643 – 1715) took strong

interest in New World

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre


1608 – France established colony in Quebec on St. Lawrence River Led by Samuel de Champlain (“Father of New

France”) Champlain befriended Huron Indians

Fought Huron enemy, the Iroquois Iroquois stopped French colonization of Ohio Valley

and fought as allies with British against French


Government in New France (Canada) Came under control of king, after private

companies failed King’s rule completely autocratic

No elected assemblies, no right to trial by bury


Slow population growth in New France 1750 – only 60,000 whites in New France Peasants in France owned land (unlike landless tenant

farmers in England) and had no reason to leave France Protestants in France had no reason to move to New

France because they were denied refuge there French government favored Caribbean island colonies

over Canada

Zones of Empire, 1700

New France Fans Out

Beaver hunting Beaver hats fashionable in

Europe French fur-trappers (coureurs

de bois – “runners of the woods”) trapped beavers and lived hard (drinking, spending)

New France Fans Out

French fur-trappers got Indians to trap furs and then trade to the whites Huge drawbacks for Indians

Decimated by white diseases Addicted to alcohol Killing beaver violated Indian religious beliefs

(example of European wrecking of Indian traditional life)

New France Fans Out

French and Indian fur-trappers traveled deep into North America Across Canada, through present-day US, to

Spanish Texas Killed almost all beaver in some areas, inflicting

incalculable ecological damage

Fur-Trading Posts

New France Fans Out

French Catholic missionaries Worked to convert Indians to Christianity

(especially Jesuits) Few permanent converts, but played important

role as explorers and geographers

New France Fans Out

French empire builders 1701 – Antione Cadillac founded Detroit to stop

English settlers pushing into Ohio Valley 1682 – Robert de La Salle sailed down

Mississippi River to Gulf of Mexico Named area “Louisiana” in honor of Louis XIV Returned to Gulf of Mexico in 1685; did not find

Mississippi and was murdered in a mutiny

Zones of Empire,

1700

New France Fans Out

French built forts on Mississippi to stop Spanish expansion 1718 – most important was New Orleans

Controlled mouth of Mississippi River Controlled shipping of beaver down Mississippi to

Europe

New France Fans Out

French established several forts and trading posts in Illinois Became important for France as grain-producing

area, shipped to French West Indies or Europe

The Clash of Empires

King William’s War (1689 – 1697) Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713) In both, British colonists mainly fought

French fur-trappers (coureurs de bois) Both sides recruited whatever Indians they could British and French did not think New World was

worth large numbers of troops, so both sides fought primitive guerilla warfare


Important battles, 1689 – 1713 French attacked British settlements at Schenectady, New

York and Deerfield, Massachusetts Spanish (allied with France) attacked South Carolina

settlements British failed miserably at attacking Quebec and

Montreal Important British victory at stronghold of Port Royal in

Acadia (Nova Scotia)

Scenes of the French WarsArrows Indicate French-Indian Attacks


1713 – peace treaty signed at Utrecht (Netherlands) Showed how badly French and Spanish had been beaten Britain gained Acadia (renamed Nova Scotia – New

Scotland), Newfoundland, and Hudson Bay Pinched French St. Lawrence settlements, foreshadowing their

ultimate doom Began decades of “salutary neglect” toward American

colonies – leading ultimately to their desire for independence

British Territory

After Two Wars, 1713


British won trading rights in Spanish America as result of 1713 Treaty of Utrecht Led to problems over British smuggling to get

around Spanish revenue laws British captain Jenkins came across Spanish

authorities Spanish had an ear sliced off; told to take it back to

the king, and tell him that Spain would do same to the king if he was there


1739 – War of Jenkin’s Ear Limited war between British and Spanish in

Caribbean Sea and Georgia 1740 – 1748 – King George’s War

War of Jenkin’s Ear merged into this war France allied with Spain against Britain


American colonists and British fleet took Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island Controlled entrance to St. Lawrence River

Peace treaty in 1748 gave Louisbourg back to France New Englanders outraged

Made their sacrifice seem pointless and allowed France to keep control of colony in America

George Washington Inaugurates War with France

Mid 1700s – fertile Ohio Valley became primary area of fighting between France and British colonists Westward moving British colonists wanted to push into

Ohio Valley France wanted to link holdings in Mississippi Valley and

Canada British colonists now willing to fight French to protect

their economic security Worried about French land-grabbing and competition in fur-trade


1749 – competition for Ohio Valley led to open conflict British – Virginian land speculators secured

shaky rights to 500,000 acres French – building chain of forts controlling Ohio

Valley Fort Duquesne build at point where Monongahela and

Allegheny Rivers meet to for m the Ohio River (now site of Pittsburgh)


1754 – George Washington sent to Ohio as lieutenant colonel, commanding about 150 men Came upon small French force, British attacked, killing

the French leader Washington built Fort Necessity French arrived with reinforcements, surrounded Fort

Necessity, and forced Washington to surrender

The Ohio Country,

1753–1754


1755 – British in Nova Scotia uprooted Acadians and scattered them in Louisiana to prevent uprising, now that war had started Acadians now called “Cajuns” in South

Global War and Colonial Disunity

Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War) Was started in America by Washington’s actions

in Ohio Previous 3 world wars had been started in Europe first

1754 – 1756 – undeclared war in America 1756 – 1763 – the Seven Years’ War fought in

Europe, West Indies, Philippines, Africa, ocean


Seven Years’ War in Europe Britain and Prussia against France, Spain,

Austria, Russia Most fighting in Germany; Frederick the Great

repelled French, Austrian, Russian armies French wasted strength in Europe; unable to

attack adequately in America


Fighting in America Previous wars had seen America disunited;

colonies closest to fighting furnished many more volunteers than colonies further away


1754 – Albany Congress British called inter-colonial conference in

Albany, New York Only 7 of 13 colonies came Purposes

Get the Iroquois to fight with British (given 30 wagonloads of gifts)

Get greater colonial unity to fight France


Ben Franklin and the Albany Congress Drew most famous cartoon of colonial era – Join,

or Die Prematurely pushed to use Albany Congress as

beginning of home rule in America

Join, or Die


Results of the Albany Congress Albany delegates universally adopted plan for

unity Rejected by individual colonies and British

government Colonies thought plan did not give them enough

independence British government thought plan gave colonies too

much independence

Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath

Early French and Indian War went badly for British

English General Braddock sent with British soldiers to America

1755 – Braddock and 2,000 men marched to capture Fort Duquesne Some of his men were undisciplined colonist

militiamen


Braddock’s forces moved slowly to Fort Duquesne, dragging artillery and hacking through forests

A few miles from Duquesne, Braddock encountered smaller French and Indian force At first British drove French and Indians back French and Indians then retreated, hid in thickets, and

attacked and badly defeated British forces Braddock killed; Washington had 2 horses killed and several

bullets in his jacket


Indians now go on rampage from Pennsylvania to North Carolina Entire area left undefended by Braddock’s defeat Washington with only 300 men tried

unsuccessfully to defend huge area


1756 – British invaded French Canada Now undeclared war in America a worldwide

war Unwisely attacked many outposts instead of

concentrating on Montreal and Quebec If those 2 cities had fallen, the smaller outposts would

have fallen because of lack of supplies British experienced continuous defeats in

America and Europe

Pitt’s Palms of Victory

Great leader – William Pitt – in British government finally brought success Concentrated on Canada (Quebec-Montreal) and

withdrew from West Indies, where British had been spending strength without victory

Picked young, competent leaders; bypassing old, cautious generals


1758 – powerful British attacked Louisbourg Strong fortress fell after siege First significant victory of entire war

The Anglo-American Conquest of New France, 1754-1760


1759 – Battle of Quebec British attack led by James Wolfe Secret move in night up poorly guarded rocky projection

protecting Quebec Next morning, both armies faced each other on Plains of

Abraham, outside of Quebec French defeated and Quebec surrendered

1760 – Montreal fell End of France in Canada

Battle of the Plains of Abraham

The Anglo-American Conquest of New France, 1754-1760


Treaty of Paris (1763) established Britain as dominant power in North America French removed from North America French population left; still strong minority in Canada French allowed to keep several small, valuable islands in

Caribbean and 2 small fishing islands in Gulf of St. Lawrence

France gave to Spain (to compensate their ally for their losses) Louisiana and New Orleans

Spain gave Britain Florida Britain gave Spain Cuba (Havana had fallen to British

during war)

North America Before 1754

North America

After 1763 (after

French losses)

North America, Before and After the French and Indian War

Restless Colonists

Colonists had increased confidence in their military strength (having fought with the British) and their military had gained valuable experience

Myth of British military invincibility shattered at Braddock’s defeat

Friction between British officers and colonial militiamen British viewed colonists with contempt; colonists wanted

respect and recognition of their contribution

Restless Colonists

Colonial shipping during the war Shippers (using fake papers) shipped food and

supplies to enemy ports in Spanish and French West Indies

British authorities forced to ban export of all supplies from New England and middle colonies

Restless Colonists

Some colonies had refused to provide troops or money during war Not until Pitt offered to reimburse the colonies for

expenses did they unite financially behind the war Made British (who fought to protect colonists from

French and Indians) bitter Also brought up question of unity of colonies – if they

would not unite to defeat immediate enemy, would they ever unite to fight Britain?

Restless Colonists

Causes of colonial disunity Enormous distances Geographical barriers Conflicting religions Nationalities Different types of colonial governments Boundary disputes Resentment of backcountry against elites

Restless Colonists

Unity also increased during war Meeting others from different colonies, led

colonists to realize they had much in common Disunity began to melt, although more was

needed before independence

War’s Fateful Aftermath

Increased colonial independence Colonists had to only confront weaker Indians,

now that strong French were gone from northwest

French hoped one day British would lose America to independence (as revenge for loss of Canada)


Spanish and Indians weakened Spain removed from Florida

Although still controlling New Orleans, Louisiana, and western 1/2 of present-day US

Indians lost most powerful tool – ability to play off rival European powers against each other Indians would now have to negotiate exclusively with

British


1763 – Pontiac’s Rebellion Drive to remove British from Ohio Country Overran all but 3 British posts west of Appalachians

2,000 soldiers and settlers killed British counterattacked and crushed the rebellion

Included sending smallpox-infected blankets to Indians Convinced British of need for stabile relations with

Indians and need to keep troops on western border (for which colonists would be asked to pay)

Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763


1763 – colonists free to cross Appalachian mountains and settle western lands

Proclamation of 1763 British government prohibited white settlement

west of Appalachian Mountains Not designed to oppress colonists, but work out

problems with Indians and prevent another uprising like Pontiac’s Rebellion

Settled Areas at End of

French and Indian War, 1763 and the Proclamation

of 1763


Colonial reaction to the Proclamation of 1763 Angry because they felt they had fought French

for right to move west Many moved west in defiance of British

Documents

The Duel for North America · The Struggle for North America Late 1600s – England, France, and Spain fight for control of New World Native Americans swept up into battles as well