The French and Indian War An Outline Created by Mr. Stephenson

A. Prelude to War Four nations claimed North American land: France, Spain, Great Britain, and Russia

A. Prelude to War France and Great Britain were the European powers who clashed most often- -fighting over the American fur trade.

A. Prelude to War Center of a land quarrel (between British and French) was the Ohio Valley located west of the Appalachian Mountains and south of the Great Lakes (between the Mississippi and Canada) The Ohio Valley includes Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Illinois.

A. Prelude to War

Both France and Great Britain claim the Ohio Valley, but it was the French who moved into it first. France wanted Ohio Valley BECAUSE France owned the Louisiana Territory and the Quebec Territory and the Ohio Valley is right in between these two territories.

A. Prelude to War Pennsylvanian (in other words, British) fur traders move into the Ohio Valley. Virginian (in other words, British) Land companies claimed they owned the Ohio Valley land and hoped to sell it for large profits. So even the British colonists were divided over the land—Pennsylvania vs. Virginia.

A. Prelude to War Control of the Ohio Valley really depended on people who were generally ignored in colonial politics--the Native Americans. British had money and trade goods (more so than the French) to give to the Native Americans. But the French were more respectful towards the Natives and thereby won their friendship.

A. Prelude to War So most indians joined with the French. However, the Iroquois, who controlled Great Lakes region and the fur trade within that region, joined with the British.

B. During The War The War begins at Fort Necessity

B. During The War Meeting occurs; Iroquois natives and British colonists meet to settle some differences. British want Iroquois support and help. Iroquois get frustrated and leave, yet British colonists continue to talk Benjamin Franklin has an idea based on his observations of the Iroquois.

B. During the War Benjamin Franklin proposes “The Albany Plan” Franklin reasons that if the “savage” natives can join and work together, why couldn’t the “civilized” colonists work together? The Albany Plan: = King appoints representative from each colony with one overall leader = These representatives (the Council) manage relations with Native Americans, raise/maintain army, and levy (collect) taxes to pay for council and army. The Plan FLOPPED: None of the colonies approve it.

B. During the War IMPORTANCE OF ALBANY PLAN (this is probably on a test): The Albany Plan was the first attempt by the colonies to work together as one unit, group, “nation.” It did not work, but it was the first attempt to unify the colonies.

B. During the War British are not doing well in this conflict. British government formally declares war in With a formal declaration of war, William Pitt becomes the Minister of War for the British. War becomes a true “world war” called the Seven Years War and battles between the French and the English are fought in North America, Europe, Africa, and India.

B. During the War

With renewed interest in the war, Britain sends more men and supplies to America. Britain begins to string together a series of victories in North America and the British decide to conquer the French parts of Canada.

B. During the War British General James Wolfe decides to attack Quebec. Why? He wants to cut off French supplies coming from Canada and going to the Louisiana Territory. The French defend Quebec bravely for a while...

B. During the War Until Gen. Wolfe finds a way into Quebec at the Plains of Abraham. British win the Battle on the Plains of Abraham; British take Quebec and France wants a peace treaty

B. During the War

Pontiac was Ottawa leader and leads a rebellion against the British. Pontiac sends out messages to Chippewa, Miami, and other tribes to join together against the British. In 1763, the Indians attack the British post at Fort Detroit. This action becomes known as called Pontiac’s Rebellion. Pontiac captures several other forts and frontier settlements.

B. During the War

Pontiac’s Rebellion stops when Pontiac and the French learn about newly created Treaty of Paris. With the signing of the treaty, the Indians realize that there will be no more French support and they stop attacking the British.

C. After the War British and French ended the war by signing the Treaty of Paris in Treaty also involves many countries because the French and Indian War was part of the larger Seven Years War. The Seven Years War included the British, French, Russia, Austrian, and Prussian (German) nations among a few others.

C. After the War Britain got lots of France’s New World possessions: New France (Canada), the Ohio Valley, and the French lands EAST of Mississippi (except New Orleans). Spain got the Louisiana Territory: Why? A beat up France needed money and resources from Spain. Louisiana was the repayment of the “loan” and was transferred to Spain before the treaty was created. France was left with practically NO land in North America, but did keep its sugar colonies in the Caribbean and 2 small fishing islands near Canada.

C. After the War British find out that the American territory is HUGE and very costly to defend and govern. One problem involved the French settlers in North America. They remained in the territory and they worked with the Native American Indians to create trouble for the British colonists.

C. After the War British King George II dies in His grandson, George III, takes over. King George III signs the Proclamation of 1763 The Proclamation of 1763 says there will be NO MORE “BRITISH” SETTLEMENT of the “western” territories (Ohio Valley). The King make this proclamation because colonial settlement was continuing to create skirmishes and battles on the frontier. The King was trying to end those battles.

C. After the War To enforce the Proclamation, the British station troops along the frontier which angers settlers. How do British colonists react? They were VERY upset. Many colonists wanted to settle in the Ohio Valley, and some settled there anyway despite the Proclamation.

C. After the War The most pressing post war problem for the British was MONEY--or more correctly, the lack of money. The British government looked for solutions to raise money. The solution they found involved the colonists. The British reasoned that the victory during the war made the colonists safe from the French and had cost the colonists very little. Colonists held a different point of view: The War was NOT about them and their need for protection, but INSTEAD the war was about protecting British trade and business interests in America. In other words, the colonists believe that the war was the cost of doing business.

C. After the War British get new Prime Minister George Grenville. The British government under Grenville decides to tax the Colonists to repay the war debt. The first tax act to raise money to pay French/Indian War debts was the Sugar Act of Another law which angered the colonists was the Quartering Act which forced colonies to house and feed British troops.

SUMMARY The War caused by both French and British wanting the Ohio River Valley. The British win the war including Ohio Valley and Canada (New France) but they do not get the Louisiana Territory. France loses almost all North American possessions. Spain gains the Louisiana Territory. Results of the war: Great Britain gets into financial debt and looks to the colonies to help pay the debt, and colonists refuse to do so.