The Final Colonial War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

England vs. FranceBoth 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 tradeCompeting with

France for Indian fur trade

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

French & Indian WarVA 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 with loss

Albany Conference of 1754 Delegates of 7

colonies met with Iroquois chiefs to discuss mutual defense

Plan of colonial union proposed by Ben FranklinA Grand Council

would oversee defense, Indian relations, trade, taxation & westward expansion

Would have a royally appointed executive with veto power

Albany Plan1st plan of Inter-

Colonial Union

Albany Plan rejected by colonies & ParliamentEngland feared colonies

would become too strong

Colonies refused to surrender control over own taxationEven in face of real

danger

Early British FailuresBraddock

underestimated French & unfamiliar w/ wilderness warfare1755 - French & Indians

ambushed Braddock’s force of British & Colonial soldiers near Ft. Duquesne900 incl. Braddock die

vs. 23 French - Washington leads survivors home

1756 - Montcalm (FR) invades NY

British Failures Most British regulars committed to European fightingBulk of early

fighting done by colonial militiaPoorly

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 20:1but were ill-trained

Colonies resisted providing more troopsMost enlisted for

short time

French well-trained & ledFought hardCanadians

recruited in large numbers

The Tide Turns

1757 - English Prime Minister William Pitt took control of fighting forcesSent troops, able

leaders & suppliesGreater support for war

in England & coloniesRaised # of colonial

troops by promising that England would pay for the war21K colonial troops in

1758

British OffensivesLed by British generals Jeffrey Amherst & James WolfeAmherst took Ft. Duquesne & Louisbourg in 1758

Louisbourg guards entrance to St. Lawrence RiverDrive French from northern NY & Lake Ontario region in 1759

British-American invasion of CanadaTurning point of

the war1759 - Wolfe

captured Quebec -Capital of New France & a military strongholdDecisive battle

of the warMontcalm &

Wolfe killed1760 - Montreal

fell, effectively ending French resistance

Treaty of Paris of 1763 France cedes Canada

to England

England gave French back the islands of Guadalupe & Martinique + 1/2 of Hispaniola

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

England kept Florida

Havana & Manila returned to Spain

England took India

Results and Consequences of the War

For England:England dominant

in N. Am.National debt in

England doubled as a result of the warParliament looked

to the colonies for additional moneyWould begin to

tax colonies for the purpose of raising $Wanted Americans

to pay 1/3 of cost of their defense

Results & Consequences

For the Colonies:

French threat removedColonists less dependent

on England for defense

Valuable military experience for soldiersLearned 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 supportEx: supplying food

& shelter

Colonist resented arrogance of British officers

British citizens resented higher taxes to pay for warPitt promised to

cover cost

Residual FrictionColonial expansion

into west angered Native Americans

Some (e.g. Pontiac) led anti-British movementsAttacked frontier forts

Fighting cost England $

Indians eventually make peace

Brit govt. issued Proclamation of 1763 to appease Native Americans

Proclamation of 1763England took control

of western landsSettlement, trade,

etc.Goal - organize

expansionRecognized Indian

claims west of proclamation line

Colonist thought they needed western land to prosperSaw British troops

who enforced Proc. Line as hindering needed expansion