The French and Indian War

The war leads to growing tensions between Great Britain and its colonies

France’s North American Empire France claims St. Lawrence River region, �

Mississippi Valley 1754, French colony of � New France has

small population◦ Fur traders, Catholic priest missionaries

French have good relations, military �alliances with natives

France and Britain: Rivals for an Empire

France and Britain fight two inconclusive wars in early 1700s

French build Fort Duquesne in Ohio Valley

Land already promised to Virginia planters by governor

In 1754, � George Washington is sent to evict French◦ Fort Necessity, French

counterattacked

�French and Indian War begins—4th war between Britain and France

The War Begins

General Edward Braddock’s army ambushed near Fort Duquesne◦ Cowardice of British versus colonial militia◦ Washington: “the Virginia troops showed a good

deal of bravery, and were near all killed…[but the British soldiers] broke and ran as sheep pursued by dogs and it was impossible to rally them.”

1755–1756, British lose repeated battles to French and native allies◦ Why?

Early French Victories

William Pitt helps British win battles◦ Borrows money to create

well equipped army Iroquois joins the British In 1759, British capture �

of Quebec at Plains of Abraham leads to victory in war

Treaty of Paris ends war (1763)◦ Britain gains new land◦ Allows Spain to keep land

west of Mississippi

Victory Brings New Problems for American Indians

Ottawa leader Pontiac fears loss of land; captures British forts

British use smallpox as �weapon; Native Americans greatly weakened

� Proclamation of 1763—colonists cannot settle west of Appalachians

Pitt and the Iroquois Turn the Tide