American HISTORY I Unit 2: Independence/Revolution

The background to the American Revolution/Independence: Notes #1: The French and Indian War (1754-63)  Also called the “Seven Years War” - (A) Causes>- Tensions between the French and British had been building for years over the lands in the colonies -Americans want the French Ohio River Valley for farming and fur trade -Redcoats (British soldiers) were sent to America to push the French away from the Ohio River Valley -Skirmishes started to break out between the British and the French The French & Indian War

Notes #1: the French & Indian War: -(B). Events of the War: -Albany Plan of Union—proposed for colonial defense but rejected. could not figure out how to fund the plan for defense First attempt at colonial unity. Who was fighting?? -French and the Huron Indians -British, colonists, and their own Indian allies. *Indians trying to protect their own interests once the war was over. George Washington=general sent over from England to fight (very esteemed soldier) -He demanded that French troops stop building forts around the Ohio River and with-draw from territory “Join or Die” by Benjamin Franklin and first published in his Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754

Notes #1: The French and Indian War: Washington was unsuccessful-instead; skirmishes between the French (and their Indian allies) and the British/colonists broke out. English formally declared war in May 1756. For the first three years of the war, the outnumbered French dominated the battlefield- defeating the English in battles at Fort Oswego and Ticonderoga. -Indian War Tactics= “Guerilla Warfare” Surprised formal British soldiers * most notorious battle of the war was the French victory at Fort William Henry ended in a massacre of British soldiers by Indians allied with the French. (“Last of the Mohicans”)

Notes #1: The French & Indian War:

Notes #1: The French & Indian War: 1758-the British start to win the war made peace with important Indian allies adapted their fighting strategies like the Indians the French started to loose their Indian allies the British started to control much of the Western frontier *the French were exhausted by battle, outnumbered, and outgunned by the British. *defeated at Quebec in September of 1759

Notes #1: The French and Indian War (C) Results of the War: -Treaty of Paris 1763= Britain took Canada and America to the Mississippi River Britain took Florida from Spain New American colonial policy due to debts Stationed redcoats in colonial ports New British taxes and restrictions on the colonies to follow

Notes #1: The French and Indian War Pontiac’s Uprising – 1763 Native Americans and abandoned French settlers were upset with the Treaty. Led massive attacks along the Western frontier of Pennsylvania. Paxton Boys – 1763 Militia of Western Pennsylvanian settlers Retaliate against the Natives involved in Pontiac’s Uprising Unhappy with lack of protection from the colonial government, they marched to Philadelphia to complain to the governor EXAMPLE OF WESTERN SETTLEMENTS NOT BEING REPRESENTED! Remember Bacon’s Rebellion!