French and Indian War Cause and Effect

Issues in France lead to thoughts of expansion. Cause ◦Religious tensions in France between Protestant Huguenots vs. Catholics Effect ◦1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day  Murder of Protestant Huguenots ◦1598 Edict of Nantes  Religious tolerance of Huguenots

French Colonization/Expansion Cause ◦King Louis XIV desires to expand French empire in the New World Effect ◦Samuel de Champlain leads first settlement in Canada: 1608

Economic Commodity Cause ◦French discover valuable resource in Beaver fur. Effect ◦French recruit natives.  Spread disease and alcoholism ◦Beaver population decimated  Impacts ecosystem ◦French fur traders spread out across N. America ◦1682: Robert de la Salle travels on Mississippi and sets up French forts in MS, LA, ILL.

European Rivalry Cause ◦Rivalry between European powers in North America in late 17 th, early 18 th centuries. Effect ◦King William’s War  ◦Queen Anne’s War  ◦British vs. French (and Spain) ◦Both race to attain alliances with natives. ◦Fighting over claims of valuable Ohio River Valley.

Washington invades Ohio Cause ◦George Washington and Virginia land speculators travel to Ohio River Valley to secure “settlement rights” in Effect ◦French not wanting to lose influence in fur trade set up Fort Duquesne. (today Pittsburgh area)

Beginning of Hostilities Cause ◦Washington and 150 Virginia militiamen fire shots at a small French detachment 40 miles near Fort Duquesne. Effect ◦French retreat but return later with reinforcements and lay siege on Fort Necessity. ◦Washington is forced to surrender. ◦Returns to Virginia July 1754.

There’s no I in team Cause ◦There is a lack of unity among the English colonies. Effect ◦1754: Colonists hold the Albany Conference. ◦Attempting to attain alliance with Iroquois as well as colonial unity.  Ben Franklin’s drawing “Join or Die”.

Britain’s Rough Start Cause ◦British place older General Edward Braddock in charge of capturing Fort Duquesne in Effect ◦French and Natives dominate using guerrilla warfare tactics against the older style of fighting employed by Braddock. ◦Braddock is KIA and Washington takes over. ◦Natives go on a scalping and raiding campaign throughout colonies.

Bad Idea… Cause ◦British launch a full- scale invasion of Canada with poor military strategy. Effect ◦The French and Natives fend off the invasion and win another decisive battle.

New sheriff in town… Cause ◦British place well respected William Pitt in command. Effect ◦Strategy changes and focuses on French West Indies and the life-line of Canada (Quebec and Montreal). ◦British and colonists attain first major victory of war at Louisbourg in 1758.

Cause: ◦Battle of Quebec  1759 ◦Fall of Montreal  1760 Effect ◦Pitt places James Wolfe in command. ◦Wolfe defeats the French in the most significant battle of the war in Quebec. ◦With the fall of Montreal this signaled the end of the French threat to British colonial dominance.

The end of war… Cause ◦Treaty of Paris  1763 Effect ◦Britain attains all of French landholdings except for a few trading posts. ◦Spain gives Florida to Britain in return for Cuba which was taken by the British earlier. ◦The British empire now has the most powerful navy in the world.

Natives still fighting… Cause ◦Pontiac’s Uprising  1763 Effect ◦British utilize biological warfare on Natives by giving them blankets exposed to small pox. ◦Native violence causes King George III to issue the Proclamation of 1763 to ease tensions with natives.

Drawing the line… Cause ◦Proclamation of 1763 Effect ◦Colonists cannot settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. ◦Anger colonists who just fought for their country and rights as Englishmen. ◦Feel betrayed by English crown.