The Duel for North America: 1608-1763 Chapter 6

A. France Finds a Foothold in Canada Religious conflict in France made it a latecomer to imperial scramble 1598- Edict of Nantes- religious toleration- ended religious wars in France 1608- permanent colony of Quebec

Samuel de Champlain- Father of New France Befriended Huron Indians- made enemies of Iroquois nation New France grew slowly- only 60,000 by 1750

B. New France Fans Out French fur traders spread across continent- adventurers Recruited Indians- decimated by disease & alcohol- the trade violated Indian customs Fur traders destroyed beaver population

Jesuit Missionaries Jesuit missionaries- tried to convert Indians & save them from fur traders- important in exploring & geography

Continued Other French explorers Antoine Cadillac founded Detroit- 1701 Robert de la Salle- sailed down Mississippi in 1682 to check Spanish expansion Named Louisiana France later est. forts on Miss. to stop Spain Interior of continent provided grain for France & French West Indies colonies

C. The Clash of Empires King William’s War (1689-1697) & Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713)- earliest wars for control of NA Neither side would commit large amounts of troops to NA- depended on local militia & Indian allies- Spain allied with France

Britain won, Treaty of Utrecht forced France to give up large tracts of land including Acadia (Nova Scotia) & gave them trading rights with Spanish America

Continued British conducted smuggling in Spanish America- caused War of Jenkins’ Ear- 1739 Caribbean & Georgia This became King George’s War- 1744-1748- France & Spain vs. *Britain* Peace treaty infuriated New Englanders

North America in 1750

D. George Washington Inaugurates War With France Ohio Valley most conflicted b/t French & British British would inevitably spread there French saw it as a link b/t northern & southern holdings Each side now willing to pour resources into NA

Ohio Valley 1749 several important VA families claimed 500,000 acres in Ohio Valley French erecting a chain of forts along Ohio Most important was Fort Duquesne- later site of Pittsburgh

Continued 1754- VA gov. sent G. Washington w/ 150 militiamen to secure VA’s claims Encountered a group of French troops, fired shots & killed several French retreated, returned w/ reinforcements- Washington took refuge in Fort Necessity

First shots of French & Indian War British authorities feared uprising in Nova Scotia (Acadia)- moved 4,000 French speakers as far south as Louisiana- “Cajuns”

E. Global War & Colonial Disunity 7 Years’ War- full scale global war French mainly focused on winning in Eur. Allowed British to win in America- Prime Minister William Pitt (i.e. Pittsburgh, Pittsboro, & Pitt County) was the hero of American colonists

War in America forced colonists to unite in a way they never had

Continued Albany Congress- called to create a plan to deal with French during the war 1754 British authorities called delegates to Albany- wanted to keep Iroquois on their side Indian chiefs were threatened & bought off

Albany Plan of Union Longer-Range objective of Albany Congress was to devise a method of greater cooperation among colonies Ben Franklin- political cartoon, written plan for colonial unity- approved by delegates, rejected by colonies

Braddock’s Blundering and Its Aftermath 1755- “Bulldog” Braddock sent to capture Fort Duquesne

Braddock (continued) Had strong “regulars” and colonial militiamen- “buckskins” Braddock disliked the militia- undisciplined Difficult trek into wilderness, heavy load Encountered small French & Indian force that used guerilla tactics against them

Continued Indians rampaged the eastern frontier Washington fought bravely Braddock killed/British beaten Indians rampaged the eastern frontier Bounties offered on scalps Britain declared war on France in 1756 Launched series of unsuccessful attacks on French outposts

G. Pitt’s Palms of Victory 1757- William Pitt became PM of GB- highly respected “Organizer of Victory” Decided to concentrate on Quebec & Montreal 1758- sent troops against Louisboug- fell after siege

Next sent James Wolfe to take Quebec- 1759 Faced Marquis de Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham Both commanders killed in battle, but British won

Continued Montreal fell in 1760- these 2 battles significant b/c the French flag no longer flew in Canada Treaty of Paris (1763)- French out of NA- territory controlled by Spain & Britain

1763  Treaty of Paris France --> lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. Spain --> got all French lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England. England --> got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India.

North America in 1763

H. Restless Colonists War was practice for colonists Shattered illusion of British invincibility Resentment among British & American officers & men American smuggling

British-American Colonial Tensions Colonials British Methods of Fighting: Indian-style guerilla tactics. March in formation or bayonet charge. Military Organization: Col. militias served under own captains. Br. officers wanted to take charge of colonials. Military Discipline: No mil. deference or protocols observed. Drills & tough discipline. Finances: Resistance to rising taxes. Colonists should pay for their own defense. Demeanor: Casual, non-professionals. Prima Donna Br. officers with servants & tea settings.

I. Americans: A People of Destiny Colonists no longer had to stay close to British for protection against French French wanted to see British lose their colonies Spanish much less of a threat Indians lost political ability to play one off of the other

Many Americans felt distant from GB Americans still disunited from within- distance, geography, religion, nationalities, colonial govts, boundary disputes, backcountry vs. aristocracy – but starting to break down

Effects of the War on Britain? 1. It increased her colonial empire in the Americas. 2. It greatly enlarged England’s debt. 3. Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings. Therefore, England felt that a major reorganization of her American Empire was necessary!

Effects of the War on the American Colonials 1. It united them against a common enemy for the first time. 2. It created a socializing experience for all the colonials who participated. 3. It created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify.

Continued 1763- Pontiac’s Rebellion- drive British out of Ohio country- killed 2,000 soldiers & settlers British retaliated using “biological warfare”- blankets with smallpox, Pontiac killed in 1769

Proclamation of 1763- colonists thought land was their birthright, Parliament trying to stop conflict Both sides now resented one another for many reasons