Seven Years War (French and Indian War )

Tradition of Neglect How had the British ruled the colonies from the early 1600’s until the 1750’s? How had that impacted the colonists? What major British policies are in place in the colonies by the start of the war?

War for Empire in Europe France vs. Britain in Europe Conflict starts in colonial North America Competition to control trade and exapnsion in the Ohio River Valley among several groups British/British colonists French Iroquois Confederacy Indigenous tribal groups French Indian War in North America becomes Seven Years War in Europe

British goals in North America Secure the American colonies American colonies had become increasingly profitable British feared French intrusion British wanted to control lucrative Ohio River Valley Attempted to pay for as little of the conflict as possible

Goals of North American British colonists Secure right/ability to expand into Ohio River Valley Pacify Indian resistance Establish a more secure claim to future territories Gain respect of British government and soldiers Colonial governments felt they were doing their part Colonial officers/troops volunteered to fight alongside British troops Friction developed between colonial and British troops British treated colonial troops as second class soldiers A few hoped to use war to unify the colonies Ben Franklin drafts Albany Plan of Union (failed)

What do you think Ben Franklin was trying to portray in his famous cartoon? Why was it so hard to unify the colonists?

Fighting the War Two Sides Colonists + British troops + Iroquois Confederacy vs. French + Indigenous Native American tribes Fight a brutal series of battles Fought primarily to take and hold a series of forts (back and forth) War ended by a surprise British attack on Quebec Treaty of Paris #1 (1763) Big change: French territory ceded to Britain (and Spain) Did not settle colonial conflicts with Native Americans Separate peace negotiation (smallpox)

Impacts of the War Strained relations with the British Struggle to maintain the notion of “Transplanted Englishmen” Colonists receive the stigma of second class treatment Washington is elevated to celebrity status First recognizable name in colonial military establishment Britain feels the strain of mounting war debts Two major policy changes: Avoid future conflict in North American colonies Proclamation of 1763/Standing Army Raise colonial taxes and increase colonial regulation End of (Salutary) Benign Neglect

The Proclamation of 1763 is seen as a major turning point in American history. Why?