The Great War for Empire Sasso US I

Setting the Stage King William’s War Queen Anne’s War King George’s War

The Competition for North America (Mid 1700s) England Already loosely controlling the Atlantic Seaboard France Large territorial claims through the middle of North America Native Americans Moved off original lands; trying to determine what is best for them Colonists Confined to the Atlantic Seaboard

The Beginnings The Iroquois Confederacy held a dominant position in fur trade Iroquois open up fur trade in the Ohio Valley to the British French interpret this as being aggressive (territory was disputed) French start building massive forts throughout the area Fort Duquesne is one of the crown jewels

The Beginnings England and France both overreact VA militia under the command of George Washington is called out GW is only 22 at the time, and really inexperienced militarily He makes a mistake…calls for an assault on a French scouting party French retaliate (and totally humiliate GW in the process) These are the first skirmishes of the French and Indian War

The French and Indian War The war has multiple names, depending on location French and Indian War (America) Great War for Empire (England) Seven Years War (Continental Europe) The war has three distinct phases

Phase 1 (1754-1756) Largely a North American conflict at this stage England and France are occupied in Europe The bulk of the fighting consists of colonists defending against Native raids- Natives were excited by what they felt was English weakness One large English Advance led by General Edward Braddock They are routed by the French and Indians

Phase 2 (1756-1758) England and France will formally declare war on one another The conflict now goes global Fighting erupts in America, the West Indies, India, and Europe However, the main war is being waged in America

Phase 2 (1756-1758) Up to this point the battle effort had been locally controlled and fought by the colonists England now looks to assert more authority over the war England’s policies will shift significantly under the direction of Prime Minister William Pitt

William Pitt Pitt firmly brings the war under English control Personally plans war strategies Appoints commanders Issues orders to the colonists “Impressment”- forcing colonial citizens into the British military Additionally- had soldiers seize whatever goods they needed…usually without paying for them Creates a lot of resentment and tension between the colonists and British

Phase 3 (1758-1763) Colonists will protest against British orders and requests, sometimes violently After 1758, Pitt will have to relax some of his earlier policies Realizes that he will have to utilize more British regulars (instead of colonial militias) if he wants to secure a victory against the French Recruitment will be given back to colonial authorities; leads to a troop surge in favor of the British The French had always been outnumbered; troop surge will be too much for the French and Natives to handle The tides of war will start to turn in favor of the British

Phase 3 (1758-1763) By mid-1758 the British regulars and colonial militias are taking French strongholds at will Ft. Duquesne will fall without a fight Generals Jeffrey Amherst and James Wolfe The greatest victory comes at Quebec, 9/13/1759 Quebec was supposed to be impenetrable This is the beginning of the end for the French French will formally surrender to Amherst in September of 1760

The Treaty of Paris Treaty will not be completed until 1763 French losses are great France is forced to give England all colonial lands up to the Mississippi River, as well as Caribbean territories France must also give New Orleans and all of their land West of the Mississippi River to Spain Big picture: France is out of North America

Effects France is out of North America England Greatly expands England’s territory in the new world (at least 2x) This will greatly increase problems as well Debt increases significantly English dislike for Americans will increase It is the English belief that this war was fought for the benefit of the Americans, but the Americans are unappreciative England feels that a major reorganization of America has to take place France France is out of North America France is not happy about that, and will carry some serious bitterness Will look for revenge on the English

Effects British victory is a disaster American Colonists Interesting situation Since England’s land has doubled, American land has doubled Colonists really want to expand westward As a result of the war, the colonies had been unified against a common enemy for the first time Colonists starting to really resent British authority Policies enforced during the war will leave lasting scars Native Americans British victory is a disaster The tribes that sided and fought alongside the French will not be forgotten by the English or the Americans The Iroquois will begin to crumble from within Native Americans will never again have a position to deal with European rivals Their relationships with American colonists will deteriorate quickly