The Enlightenment and French and Indian War Influencing Revolution

The enlightenment Began in France in the 1700’s among the upper nobility and bourgeoisie. Biggest intellectual movement since the Renaissance. Stressed human reason, logic, and science to explain human nature, government, justice, marriage and gender, religion, and the natural universe. Major philosophers were Voltaire, Locke, Montesquieu, Diderot, and Rousseau. Their ideas travelled across the Atlantic, mainly in the form of Diderot’s Encyclopedie, and influenced ideas of American rule.

The french and indian war Known as the Seven Years War in Europe (which technically lasted 9 years). It was a European conflict that spread to North America (and also to India and West Africa)- so technically it’s the first world war. Britain and France were at war in Europe. Britain was allied with Prussia and France was allied with Austria. It was a trade war, fought over trade routes and colonial possessions, fueled by anger over smuggling and piracy in the Americas, and royal family rivalries in Europe.

The french and indian war

The french and indian war British colonists wanted to expand further west, which was a problem for the… French: because they had already claimed that land Native Americans: because that land was actually theirs. So most Native Americans allied with the French. But some enemy tribes allied with the British. In the end, the British won, due in part to France being too distracted by its war in Europe. William Pitt, British PM: “We won Canada in the fields of Prussia” Britain gained French Canada and was left in ton of debt. The real losers of the war, however, were the Native Americans, who lost thousands of men and gained basically nothing.

The french and indian war Why was Britain left in so much debt after the war? - Huge new territory to administer - Obvious huge cost of war Britain needed revenue after the war, so they… RAISED TAXES. How did winning the Seven Years War actually cost the British their first empire???