The French and Indian War

Why? French and the English both b/c interested in the Ohio River valley French want it b/c… It allowed them to travel from New France to Louisiana easily English want it b/c English fur traders and land speculators wanted the land

Tension Builds French build forts from Lake Ontario to the Ohio River To retaliate the English build a fort in western Pennsylvania The French took the British fort b/f it was completed and built their own fort George Washington raised a force to expel the French

England Retreats Washington does not succeed About one month later Washington was forced to surrender Washington returned to Virginia leaving the French in charge of the Ohio River valley Washington became a hero in the colonies for his courageous attempt to resist the French

Alliances The French already had alliances with the Huron And later w/ the Spanish British want an alliance w/ the Iroquois Indians The Albany Conference – 7 colonies sent representatives to meet with 150 Iroquois leaders at Albany, New York The Iroquois refused an alliance with the British They would remain neutral

The Albany Conference The Albany Plan of Union issued at the conference Developed by a committee led by Benjamin Franklin Proposed the colonies unite to form a federal government The plan of union was rejected by the colonists but… It showed that many had begun to think of the colonies joining for the common defense

Political Cartoon

The Battle Begins General Edward Braddock – leader of the British troops Braddock appoints Washington to serve as his aide They then head to west to attack Fort Duquesne They were ambushed by the Huron

America’s Hero Braddock is shot and dies Washington’s leadership saved the British from disaster Washington rallies the troops and organized a retreat He does this all with bullets whizzing by him Four bullet holes were later found in his hat and clothes

Fighting Continues Lasted for two years along the frontier Both sides raided each other’s territory 1756 – the fighting b/w the French and the British spread to Europe (Seven Years’ War) Native Americans b/g to give up their attacks when they saw the British had the upper hand This leaves the French badly outnumbered! Spain joins the French

The War Ends The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris Eliminated French power in North America New France b/c part of the British Empire (except for New Orleans) Spain gave Florida to the British, Spain got New Orleans and lands west of MS

Pontiac Fights Back Pontiac – chief of the Ottawa people He unites Native American groups They attack forts along the frontier and burned down several towns Settlers were moving into W. Pennsylvania in defiance of the colony’s treaty with the Indians British troops stopped them but they don’t want another war War costs money Don’t want to disrupt the fur trade (make money)

Settlers Limited The Proclamation Act of 1763… Issued by King George Drew a line from north to south along the Appalachian Mountains Declared the colonists could not settle west of the line w/o the British gov’t permission This enraged many farmers and land speculators

Customs Duties The British gov’t need a way to pay for… French and Indian War debt British troops now stationed in the colonies New tax policies English realize that American merchants were smuggling goods in and out of the colonies w/o paying customs duties Customs duties – taxes on imports and exports

Trial in Nova Scotia The British pass a law allowing customs agents to send smugglers to a new court in Nova Scotia The British felt that colonial juries were too sympathetic to smugglers Trial in Nova Scotia had no jury Violates the traditional English right to a jury of one’s peers John Hancock was arrested (John Adams was his lawyer)

Let’s Have Fun! You are to create your own political cartoon discussing the outcome of the French & Indian War It must take up the entire space of an 8 ½ x 11 inch piece of paper It must be in color It must make reference to the outcome of the French & Indian War (Treaty of Paris 1763) It may or may not have words- your choice!