The French and Indian War and Colonial Tension Unit 2, Lesson 1

French and Indian War England and France had long fought for dominance in Europe Both countries claimed land in America England and France began to fight over the Ohio River Valley The name French and Indian War is used mainly in the United States. It refers to the two enemies of the British colonists, the royal French forces and their various American Indian allies. The British colonists were supported at various times by the Iroquois, Catawba, and Cherokee, and the French colonists were supported by Wabanaki Confederacy members Abenaki and Mi'kmaq, and Algonquin, Lenape, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Shawnee, and Wyandot

Fighting The French and some Indian tribes fought on one side, English and colonists fought on the other England wins largely because its superior navy blocked supplies between France and “New France” George Washington became a hero to the colonists for his courage during the war Spain eventually joined France, but England won the war in 1763

Treaty of Paris (1763) England-winner France gave the eastern part of New France to England France gave the western part of New France to Spain, including New Orleans

Britain’s Colonial Policies Evolve Pontiac’s Rebellion: Colonists crossed the Appalachians to settle new land, encroaching on Indians In 1763, Indian Chief Pontiac responded by leading attacks on British forts British troops stopped the rebellion, but want to prevent further conflict Warfare on the North American frontier was brutal, and the killing of prisoners, the targeting of civilians, and other atrocities were widespread. The ruthlessness and treachery of the conflict was a reflection of a growing divide between the separate populations of the British colonists and Native Americans. 

Continue Salutary Neglect? Prior to the war, England’s policy toward the colonies was hands-off The French and Indian War made England take more control of the colonies

England Tightens Its Grip England was in debt because of war England had new territory to govern-$$$ England felt that the colonies should pay to reduce English debt/pay for English soldiers England’s new policies to solve its financial problems made colonists grow resentful

Proclamation of 1763 King George III ordered no more colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains Colonists were angry because they wanted more land and many moved west anyway

The Sugar Act (1764) Taxed sugar and molasses, mainly impacting merchants “no taxation without representation” Many felt England had no right to pass taxes if colonies had no representatives in British Parliament Smugglers were tried in admiralty court without juries

Quartering Act (1765) Required colonists to provide food and shelter to British soldiers Resentment grew, forming the basis for the future 3rd Amendment to the US Constitution

The Stamp Act (1765) First DIRECT TAX on the colonists Almost all printed materials were taxed, including newspapers, posters, deeds, and even playing cards Required all legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and advertisements The first direct tax: paid by people in the colonies not by merchants that imported the goods Stamp Act Congress: representatives from nine colonies met to protest the Stamp Act Sons of Liberty: secret organization that intimidated tax collectors with violence Boycotts: refusing to buy British goods proved to be the most effective protest Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in 1766 at the request of British merchants

Stamp Act Opposed Vigilante groups like the Sons of Liberty organized demonstrations and terrorized tax collectors Many colonists agreed to boycott British products Colonial delegates formed the Stamp Act Congress and asked the king to repeal the law

Stamp Act Repealed Because of colonial protest and boycotts, England repealed the Stamp Act Declaratory Act- to save face, this law declared England’s authority to makes laws for the colonies The Declaratory Act (1766): face-saving measure by Parliament, issued after the repeal of the Stamp Act, stated Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”

Townshend Acts Series of acts taxed items like tea, paper, and glass Writs of Assistance- general warrants to search colonists’ property for smuggled goods Violators were tried in admiralty courts where they were presumed guilty John Dickinson’s “Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania” argued “no taxation without representation” Samuel Adams distributed the “circular letter,” criticizing the Townshend Acts Parliament enacted new taxes to be collected on tea, glass and paper Allowed the search of private homes without a warrant from a judge Suspended NY’s colonial assembly for its defiance of the Quartering Act Colonists organized boycotts to protest the Townshend Acts Repealed in 1770 because of damage to British trade

The Boston Massacre 1770 Boston; over 4,000 British troops stationed to keep order March 1770; British soldiers fired on a heckling crowd of colonists, killing 5 Radicals like Samuel Adams used newspapers to portray England as oppressive tyrants Boston had been the center of the conflict between colonists and the British government in the years following the Seven Years’ War. b. By 1770, the British had stationed more than 4,000 troops in Boston to maintain order. The population of Boston at the time was approximately 15,000. c. Residents of Boston were upset by the presence of British soldiers, and there were frequently confrontations between British soldiers and colonists. d. On February 22, 1770, an 11-year-old boy, Christopher Seider, was shot and killed by a British customs official during a protest. Bostonians were outraged and his death was widely publicized.

Image 1 Paul Revere created the first image, which he titled “Bloody Massacre in King Street.” Revere, a silversmith and engraver, was actively involved in efforts to resist British rule. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty and created engravings that sought to build opposition to the British. Revere began selling copies of “Bloody Massacre” three weeks after the event. He based it on an engraving by Henry Pelham, who was a Loyalist. Pelham was never credited for his work. Participants: The British soldiers are wearing matching red coats and are standing in a line. The American colonists appear to be well dressed, unarmed, and not in formation. ii. Location: The battle appears to be taking place in the middle of a city. One of the buildings is labeled “Butcher’s Hall.” The image is titled “The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.” iii. Casualties: There are several colonists lying on the ground. It doesn’t look like any of the British soldiers have been wounded. iv. Cause: The image does not provide evidence about what led to the violence

Image 2 The second image comes from William Nell’s book The Colored Patriots of The American Revolution. The book was published in 1855. It was one of the earliest and most comprehensive books about African American history. Nell was an African American abolitionist from Massachusetts. He wrote for William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper The Liberator and Frederick Douglass’s The North Star. He also worked to end segregation in Massachusetts’s public schools. In 1851, he lobbied the Massachusetts legislature to create a monument honoring Crispus Attucks. In 1888, after Nell’s death, Boston installed a large monument commemorating the Boston Massacre and Attucks was featured prominently. Participants: The British soldiers are once again wearing matching uniforms and standing in a neat line. The American colonists once again seem to be less organized than the British and don’t have matching uniforms. ii. Location: The location seems to be the same as Image 1. The building seems to match a building from Image 1. iii. Actions of the British troops: The British are firing at the colonists. iv. Casualties: There are two colonists who appear to have been killed or wounded. Crispus Attucks is at the center of the image. v. Cause: The image does not provide evidence about what led to the violence.

Image 1 & Image 2 Paul Revere, March 28, 1770 The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regiment William Nell, 1855 The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution