Struggle for Power · By the mid 1700’s, the major powers of Europe were locked in a worldwide struggle for power and land. France, Spain, and England were all trying to drive each other out of North America. The French, for instance, built a series of forts to stop the English from moving any farther westward. · Soon, the English began to cross the Appalachian Mountains in order to find furs or better farming land. France was determined to stop the English from stealing what the French saw as their land. This piece of land they were fighting over was called the Ohio River Valley.

The Natives Choose Sides · So now the stage was set for a war between the French and the English. Many Native American tribes thought that they needed to take sides in this conflict. The Algonquins and the Hurons joined the French. France had been trading with them for years, and had earned their trust. The English convinced the Iroquois to join with them. The Algonquins and the Hurons were both enemies of the Iroquois. The English also gained allies by charging lower prices than the French for European goods, and by promising to protect Native Americans should they win.

This Means WAR!! · In 1754, the English began fighting the French and Indians over land and power in North America. This war became known as the French and Indian War. The first shots of this war were fired by men under the command of an up and coming officer in the army named George Washington. He was only 22 years old at the time.

An Attempt at Unity · While Washington was fighting, representatives from the thirteen colonies were trying to unite themselves. Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union. The plan was an attempt to create one government that ruled all thirteen colonies. The delegates all voted to accept the plan, but when the plan was taken back to each individual colony, not one of them voted to ratify the Albany Plan of Union. No colony wanted to give up its power.

We’re Losing? · In the beginning of the war, poor planning and poor military leadership caused the English to lose many battles. Things, at first, did not look good for the English. · Wanting desperately to win the war, England sent over its best generals to lead the colonists to victory. England also offered high pay for colonists that would volunteer to fight in the army. Under better leadership with highly motivated troops, the English began to turn their losses into victories.

England Wins · The British were eventually able to capture Quebec, the French capital. This was a devastating blow for the French. The English and French signed the Treaty of Paris. This gave England all French land east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. Also in the treaty, England gained Florida from Spain, and Spain got all French land West of the Mississippi River. This treaty returned peace to north America, but not for long. The next major struggle between England and its own 13 colonies would come very soon. We may have spent all our money, but we won! In yo face France!