Trouble on the Frontier Chapter 5 Section 1

Competing Empires By the mid 1700’s, France and Britain controlled North American lands. Native Americans lived on most of the land that France owned. The British needed this land for farming. The British settlers began pushing into the Ohio river valley.

The French and Indian War Begins French began building forts. This alarmed the Virginia Colony. Virginia governor sends George Washington to lead the Virginia militia to order the French to leave. Washington returns telling that the French rejected his warning.

A year later, Washington goes to build a fort. He was too late A year later, Washington goes to build a fort. He was too late. The French was already there at their own fort, Fort Duquesne. Washing built a small fort about 50 miles south, Fort Necessity. Washington’s troops attacked and defeated a small French force. A larger French army comes and makes Washington surrender Fort Necessity. The French allowed Washington and troops to return home with the message that the French would never give up on the Ohio River Valley.

The Albany Congress British called a meeting of colonial leaders. Meeting took place in Albany, New York. Invited Iroquois to the meeting. The British hoped to form an alliance with the Iroquois. Iroquois refused to make an alliance.

Newspaper Ad by Benjamin Franklin Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. snake severed into eighth-- each segment labeled with the initial of a British American colony or region. New England was represented as one colony Delaware and Rhode Island were omitted completely The cartoon appeared along with Franklin's editorial about the "disunited state" of the colonies helped make his point about the importance of colonial unity. During that era, there was a superstition that a snake which had been cut into pieces would come back to life if the pieces were put together before sunset

Franklin drew up Albany Plan of Union Called for a council of representatives elected by the colonial assemblies Have authority over western settlements, relations with Native Americans, organize armies, collect taxes Albany Congress approved the plan Colonial assemblies rejected the plan—wanted to control their own taxes/armies

Early British Defeats 1755- Gen. Edward Braddock to VA with orders to capture Fort Duquesne Braddock did not listen to his troops and others when they warned him about the dangers of fighting in North America Braddock’s force ambushed by French troops and Native American allies ½ Braddock’s men killed/wounded General dead as well

More British Defeats 1755- Failed to take Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario Heavy losses near Lake George 1756- Britain declared war on France: official beginning of the Seven Years War French troops led by Gen. Louis de Montcalm captured and destroyed Britain’s Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario 1757- Montcalm captured Fort William Henry on Lake George

The British Turn the Tide Situation improved when William Pitt became Prime Minister (1757) James Wolfe—one of Britain’s top generals 1758- Britain’s 1st major victory- captured Fort Louisbourg Took over Fort Duquesne, renamed the post Fort Pitt, later became the city of Pittsburg These victories led the Iroquois to side with British

Quebec- French led by General Montcalm British led by Wolfe Night time: British found an unguarded trail, climbed cliffs Sept. 1757, British defeated French soldiers on the plains in front of the city More than 2,000 killed/wounded Both Montcalm and Wolfe killed

After losing Quebec, France could no longer defend the rest of its North American territory. Montreal (another French city) fell in 1760 1763- Britain and France signed the Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Paris France lost almost all North American possessions France ceded French Canada to Great Britain Great Britain gained all French territory east of the Mississippi (except New Orleans) Britain received Spanish Florida New Orleans, along will all land west of the Mississippi, went to Spain Without French help, Native Americans could not stop the British settlers from moving onto their lands