France’s Empire -French Areas of Colonization -St. Lawrence River Valley -Quebec -Great Lakes -Louisiana -Interested in Trading Not Colonizing French build forts to protect land from British -Better Relationship with Indians -English Colonists Want to Expand “The French have built so many forts that the British settlements almost seem surrounded.” Alexander Spotswood, Virginia, 1718

France’s Empire -Indians resist and ally with French - Exception: Iroquois -Old rivalry with Britain -Multiple wars fought between French and English in past centuries (King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War) conflict ignites again as French begin building forts near Virginia border Both French and English claimed land in the Ohio River Valley

French and Indian War -Virginia Government sends George Washington led militia against the French - Virginians fire first shots of French and Indian War - War goes global and is known as the Seven Years War - French will spread resources too thin -The French and Indian allies won many early battles - Problems: British fighting style, split troops in too many different locations

French and Indian War -Albany Plan of Union - colonies debate forming central government - Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin - Colonies rejected because did not give enough power and Britain thought it gave too much -Victory at Quebec finally gave the British control of the region -turning point of the conflict -Treaty of Paris, France lost all lands in America east of the Mississippi River “The crown disapproved it as having too much weight in the democratic part of the constitution, and every assembly as having allowed too much to prerogative; so it was totally rejected.” Benjamin Franklin on the rejection of the Albany Plan of Union

French and Indian War Effects of War 1. Increased colonial confidence 2. Shattered idea of British invincibility 3. Tensions between British and colonial officers 4. Britain angry at lack of support from colonists 5. Discovered colonial shared identity 6. Less colonial relying on Britain with loss of French threat 8. Colonists desire to expand 9. TAXES

Problems After War -Indians in the Ohio Valley revolt against British forts - Pontiac’s Rebellion -Conflicts were becoming costly for Britain -Proclamation of 1763 Stated that colonists could not cross the Appalachian Mountains -Colonists ignored the law and continued to provoke Indians

Tensions Build -British heavily in debt because of war -Standing British Army in the colonies -Trading restrictions established to levy duties (taxes) on certain products -Smugglers avoid paying taxes -Writs of Assistance Allowed British officials to search anywhere for smuggled goods

Tensions Build -Sugar Act (1764) affected merchants and traders - Taxed imported molasses and increased smuggling penalty - Established a court where prosecutors could charge accused without a jury -Protests began against taxation without representation - James Otis Developed phrase “What will future generations think of us? The trade of the whole continent is taxed by Parliament. Stamps and other internal duties and taxes are discussed. But there is not one petition to the king and Parliament urging the ending of these injustices……” James Otis, 1764

Stamp Act -Parliament passes Stamp Act, placed a direct tax on the colonists -required stamp on all legal documents, newspapers, license, and cards -affected many colonists rich and poor -Quartering Act, Required colonists to provide housing and supplies for the British troops

Resistance - Sons of Liberty Boston Samuel Adams John Adams - Stood up for colonists - Intimidated tax agents -No taxation w/o representation Stamp Act Congress held in New York concluding that only elected colonial representatives had the right to approve taxes -Protests and boycotts were organized -Stamp agents were harassed Tarred and Feathered -Law eventually repealed

Demonstrations Against the Stamp Act From Halifax in the North to Savannah in the South, popular demonstrations against the Stamp Act forced the resignation of British tax officials. The propaganda of 1765 even reached the breakfast table, emblazoned on teapots.

Townshend Acts, New tax placed on imports such as tea, glass, paper, paint -Colonists again reacted with protests -British reacted by sending more troops “The British government in all future generations may be sure that the American colonies will never try to leave Britain’s rule unless driven to it as the last desperate action against oppression. It will be an oppression that will make the wisest person mad and the weakest person strong…” James Otis, 1764

Boston Massacre -March Protests by colonists -British troops fire on crowd -5 colonists killed Crispus Attucks -Most soldiers found not guilty John Adams served as attorney for the soldiers

Crispus Attucks African American killed in the Boston Massacre

Committees of Correspondence -Groups of colonists that regularly exchanged letters about suspicious or potentially threatening British activities -Founded by Samuel Adams in Instrumental in the sinking of the Gaspee - British custom ship successful in catching smugglers - Burned by colonists in 1772 Customs ships continued to patrol the sea off the coast of America. They would regularly stop merchant ships to examine their cargo looking for illegal goods, and enforcing British customs and taxation laws. The Gaspee was a British Royal Navy ship assigned to customs duty. On June 9, 1772, the Gaspee was chasing a merchant ship believed to be smuggling goods. The Gaspee ran aground in Narragansett Bay, near Providence. The next night, a group of men boarded the Gaspee. They wounded the lieutenant who was commanding the ship, and set the ship on fire. The British ordered a full investigation. They offered a reward to anyone identifying the people responsible. No one came forward, and no one was ever charged for the offence