Causes of the American Revolution Standard 3

Prologue to the Revolution: French & Indian War England vs. France Only 1 of the 4 wars fought between 1689 and 1754 that began in the colonies & spread to Europe. It was a war between Empires, to increase their access to raw materials. Causes of the war From the British perspective the French provoked the war by building a series of forts in the Ohio River Valley. From the French perspective, these forts were necessary to halt the westward growth of British colonies. Both wanted to add the Ohio River Valley to their empire.

Prologue to Revolution: The French & Indian War Meaning of the war’s name The phrase “French & Indian War” is misleading. This is the title the British gave to the war. The title is misleading because it leads to the false idea that the French and Indians were fighting each other. The Indians Both the British and the French had Indian allies that fought along side their armies and their colonists. The Algonquian fought for the French The Iroquois Confederation fought for the British.

Prologue to the Revolution: French & Indian War The First Battle of the French & Indian War Fort Duquesne Modern day Pittsburgh, PA. Duquesne was a French fort almost completed in 1754. Virginia sent a small militia under George Washington, a young colonel of the Virginia Regiment, to attack & halt construction. On July 3, 1754, Washington lost. This battle began the French & Indian War.

Prologue to the Revolution: French & Indian War The French & Indian War In 1755, another expedition under General Edward Braddock was sent out to Fort Duquesne. Braddock’s forces of over 2,000 British regulars lost to a smaller force of French & Algonquin. This led to the frontier of the British colonies from Pennsylvania to North Carolina succumbing to French & Indian attacks. Finally, the British were once again unsuccessful in gaining Quebec in 1756. The war initially did not go well for the British & the colonial allies.

Prologue to Revolution: The French & Indian War Albany Congress, 1754 Ben Franklin, representing Pennsylvania, put forth a plan called the “Albany Plan of Union.” It called for all the colonies to unite as one Under his plan, a British official appointed by the King would help coordinate things like defense amongst all colonies. He created this cartoon to show his point. The separate colonies had never before joined together officially for any effort. The Great Awakening had come the closest to something that was experienced by every colony.

The French & Indian War British Victory The British finally achieved victory in 1758, taking the French fort of Louisburg in Nova Scotia. The following year Quebec fell to the British. In 1760, Montreal was captured. At this point the French sought to negotiate an end to the war.

Prologue to Revolution: French & Indian War Treaty of Paris of 1763 Ended the French & Indian War The French and the Algonquian are losers; the British, colonists, & the Iroquois are the winners. Britain gained New France (Quebec), lands east of the Mississippi, and Florida. EXECPT for the port of New Orleans, which went to the Spanish, as they helped the British defeat the French. Legacy of the French & Indian War Britain’s defeat of France made it the supreme authority in North America It was also now the dominant naval power of the world.