French Colonies and Conflict with Britain

France in North America 1534- Jacques Cartier explores and maps the St. Lawrence River in Canada.

France in North America 1608- Samuel de Champlain founded the first French settlement in Canada, Quebec. Quebec becomes the capital of New France. Grows very slow…Why? Fur-trading post Beaver (coureurs de bois) Runners of the woods Make friends with local Native America tribes Algonquians and Hurons

France in North America Instead of setting up forts along coast…French settle interior Robert de LaSalle 1682 founded Louisiana purpose: to stop the expansion of the Spanish near the Gulf of Mexico Spanish not thrilled… start to build forts… Protecting their claims Florida Texas

The Clash of the Empires Great Britain and Colonists French and Native American Allies

Long-standing rivalry between France & England War fought in Europe from 1754-1763 Also known as the Seven Years’ War

English concerned about French Forts being built by in the Ohio River Valley Population of English colonies growing rapidly & pushing west

First Blood…Fort Duquesne May 28 1754 Lt. Colonel Washington sent out w/ 160 men to reinforce colonial post Fort Duquesne Finds out French had already taken the post (bloodless) 40 miles out creates Fort Necessity Ambushes about 30 French 1st blood of F & I war. Tibit info: July 4th Washington & men get butt kicked by French & sent back home with tail b/w legs  Washington earns hero status

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (1754-1763) Britain and France had both wanted to be the dominant force in N. America

England France Allies Iroquois Algonquins, Hurons, Ottowas Colonial Population 1,000,000 70,000 Colonial Towns, trade, farms Fur trading, missionary Activities priests

Albany Congress Just before the outbreak of war, leaders from the colonies met in Albany, New York in June, 1754. Albany Plan of Union- proposed by Benjamin Franklin Proposed that the colonies unite to form a federal government Colonies rejected it; shows first movements toward independence

Political cartoon by Ben Franklin…published in Pennsylvania Gazette…encouraged support for the Albany plan

Treaty of Paris 1763 French booted out of N. America Brits get Canada, Florida & rights to Caribbean slave trade Colonies gain all land east of the Mississippi River Spain given Louisiana Territory 1801 secret treaty b/w Spain & France France get Louisiana Territory back

Views of the F&I War Colonist Great Britain Colonist roamed free No worries about Native Americans or Spain Less dependent on Britain for protection Colonists very confident Myth of British being invincible….GONE!!!! Britain left deeply in debt Needed to find new ways to generate money to cover costs of operating an empire Many in England felt that the colonies should carry the load of paying down the war debt Will put new regulations in place Cause severe resentment by the Colonists

PROCLAMATION OF 1763 King George III draws a line from north to south along Appalachian Mountains Settlers CANNOT settle west of that line Done to avoid further conflict with Indians Angered many backcountry settlers who wanted access to land