The Seven Years War The French & Indian War

Participants in the Seven Years War Great Britain, Prussia, Portugal & allies (Blue) France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Sweden & allies (Green)

The Seven Years War Prussia & Great Britain vs France & Austria 1754 & 1756-1763 extension of the War of Austrian Succession Britain’s superior fleet and Prussia’s excellent army combined to defeat France & Austria Russia, Sweden, Saxony, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands were also involved

Causes of the French & Indian War control of land and power in Europe control of North America’s resources the Ohio River Valley for fur the Grand Banks fishery religion; protestant vs Catholic

Early Events as early as the 1670s the French had laid claim to Louisiana and the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys by the 1740s the “Americans” had found gaps in the Appalachian mountains and were trading in the area starting in 1747 the French began sending expeditions into the Ohio Valley to secure Native trading by force if necessary they buried lead plates with the French coat of arms on them to show ownership

Escalation the FNP resisted the French and continued to trade with the British 1753 Major George Washington was sent into the Ohio Valley with a message that the French should withdraw they do not

The War May 15 1756 Britain declares war the world’s first world war France and Great Britain battle for who would be the dominate colonial power Caribbean sugar, North American fur & fish and Indian spices are all part of the war

The Fall of New France with Prussia’s army fighting the French in Europe the British Navy and Army can concentrate on the colonies 1758 Louisbourg falls the British push into the Ohio River Valley and up the Lake Champlain corridor finally in 1759 Quebec falls the war in the New World is over

Pontiac’s War 1763-1766 a loose confederation of First Nations groups vs the British led by Pontiac, an Ottawa First Nations who fought with the British by were unhappy with their actions after the war attacked often called a defeat for First Nations, it was more a stalemate changed the course of European/First Nations relations in our history helped contribute to the American Revolution as colonists were unhappy with some of the concessions given to the First Nations at the end of the war