Unit 2-Colonial America Lesson 10: French and Indian War

Review The colonies were starting to create a culture of their own, separate from England. Colonists began to struggle with the idea of being controlled by England, but at the same time, still considered themselves English. They would be willing to protect their land from England’s enemies.

British and French Rivalry The French and British had been fighting for wealth and power for hundreds of years. By the 1700s they were two of the strongest powers in Europe. This rivalry was held by many of the French and British colonists in America.

British and French Rivalry As the population grew in America, the American colonists inched closer and closer to French territory. British land companies also wanted to explore the Ohio River Valley, which the French considered their territory. They did not want to share the fur trade with the British.

Ohio River Valley

Early French-British Conflict British fur traders entered the Ohio country in the 1740s and built a fort. The French quickly attacked, pushing the British out of Ohio. After the attacks, the French built a series of forts along the upper Ohio Valley, close to the British colonies. Both sides began to attack towns and forts along the borders.

Native Americans Choose Sides It was believed that whichever side received the most help from the Native Americans would win the fight to control North America. French fur traders had better relations with the natives, mainly because they were interested in fur trade, not moving onto the Native Americans land.

Iroquois Confederacy They were a powerful group of Native Americans, based in New York. The Iroquois traded with both the French and British. They controlled the area around the Great Lakes. Due to pressure from the British moving into the Ohio River Valley, the Iroquois became allies with the British, upsetting the balance of power between the British and French.

George Washington In 1753, a group of Virginians sent a 21 year old planter named George Washington to the Ohio Valley to tell the French that they were trespassing on British land. The French said that they planned to possess the Ohio Valley, and would not leave.

George Washington Washington was named a lieutenant colonel and sent back to the Ohio Valley with a militia, or group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies, of 150 men. Their job was to build a fort where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers met the Ohio River, which is where present- day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is located.

Fort Duquesne When Washington arrived to this area, he saw that the French had already began building Fort Duquesne there. Washington built a small fort called Fort Necessity nearby. Although outnumbered, Washington’s men attacked a small French scouting party, but were soon surrounded and forced to surrender, later to be released to return to Virginia.

Albany Plan of Union Knowing that there was a threat of war, representatives from New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland met in Albany, New York to find a way to defend themselves, as well as persuade the Iroquois to take their side, against the French.

Albany Plan of Union The representatives agreed to a plan suggested by Benjamin Franklin. The Albany Plan of Union stated that “one general government” would serve 11 of the colonies, with an elected legislature that would govern the colonies and have the power to collect taxes, raise troops, and regulate trade.

Albany Plan of Union None of the colonial assemblies approved the plan because they were not willing to give up any of their power. The plans failure also meant a failure to unite the colonists to fight the French.

Strength of France The colonists knew the French were building forts that were well-armed throughout the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley. The French also had strong alliances with Native Americans, allowing them to control large areas of land.

Map of America Before French and Indian War

England Arrives During the early part of the war, the colonists were fighting the French and Native Americans. In 1754, the governor of London sent British troops to fight in America against the French, after hearing about the new forts and of Washington’s defeat. General Edward Braddock was named Commander in Chief of the British forces in America.

March to Duquesne Braddock marched from Virginia towards Fort Duquesne in June 1755, with about 1,400 British soldiers, or red-coats, and a small amount of colonial militia, or blue- coats. It took Braddock and his men several weeks to travel through the heavy forests because they had to march in formation and make clear paths through the forest and over waterways.

Washington’s Advice George Washington traveled with Braddock towards Fort Duquesne as an aide. Washington told Braddock that British troops marching through the forest was not a good idea for fighting in the frontier. The way they were lined up made them easy targets. Braddock ignored Washington’s advice.

Braddock Is Attacked French troops and Native Americans surprise attacked Braddock’s soldiers on July 9, hiding behind trees and targeting the bright red uniforms of the British. Braddock called for an organized retreat, but the panic and confusion of the red-coats caused chaos.

Braddock Is Attacked The British were defeated, had almost 1,000 casualties, and Braddock was killed. Washington led the survivors back to Virginia. _death_at_the_Battle_of_Monongahela_9- July-1755.jpg

England Declares War In 1756, England officially declared war on France, starting the Seven Years’ War in Europe, while the French and Indian War continued in America. England formed an alliance with Prussia, who fought France in Europe while the British focused on the fighting in America.

Trouble In the Colonies The British and colonies struggled for the first couple of years of the war. British forts were being captured by the French troops. Colonial farms were being attacked by Native Americans, who killed settlers, burned farms and homes, and forced many settlers back east to the coast.

William Pitt Pitt was named Prime Minister of England and took over command of the war while remaining in London. To help keep the colonists happy, Pitt said the British would pay for the supplies needed in the war, no matter how expensive. This led to tremendous debt for England, leading to raises in the colonists taxes after the war.

War Takes a Turn Pitt sent more British troops with strong leaders to not only control land to the west, but also to take French Canada to the north. In 1758, British troops, along with New England colonists, captured French controlled forts to the North. They also marched west and forced the French to leave Fort Duquesne, and renamed it Fort Pitt.

New France Falls England saw many victories against the French, not only in America, but also in the West Indies and India. The French sent a naval fleet to help Canada, but were easily defeated. The most important victory came in the Battle of Quebec.

Battle of Quebec Quebec, the capital of New France, was located on a cliff looking out over the St. Lawrence River, and was believed to be impossible to attack. A British scout found a poorly guarded path to the city. British troops surprised the guards and then continued to Quebec where they defeated the French.

Treaty of Paris After Montreal was taken by the British in 1760, fighting in North America stopped. The Treaty of Paris of 1763 allowed France to keep some of its islands in the West Indies for sugar, but were forced to give up Canada and most of its lands east of the Mississippi River to England.

Treaty of Paris Spain, who was an ally of France, gave Florida to England. Spain received lands controlled by France west of the Mississippi River, including the port of New Orleans. While the European nations had agreed to a deal, the Native Americans still lived on these lands, but were not involved in the treaty at all.

North America after French and Indian War

Consequences for the Natives Native Americans had lost their French allies and trading partners. British fur traders raised prices on their goods and refused to pay the Native Americans for use of the land. British settlers also started to move into the Ohio River Valley at the conclusion of the war.

Pontiac’s War The Native American chief, Pontiac, in the Great Lakes region tried to unite groups of Native Americans out of fear that the British were a threat to their way of life. He led attacks on smaller British forts, as well as new settlements on the Pennsylvania and Virginia frontier.

Pontiac’s War The Native Americans failed to gain control of the larger British forts and settlements along the Great Lakes. The war ended in 1765, after two groups of natives were defeated. Pontiac was pardoned by the British after signing a peace treaty in 1766.

Proclamation of 1763 King George III proclaimed that the Appalachian Mountains were a temporary border in the west for the colonies, stating colonists could not settle west of it. This angered many colonists, especially colonists that had already bought land west of the mountains.

Conclusion The French and British rivalry in Europe was brought over to America. Although the French had the Native Americans as allies, the British and colonists were able to win the war. Victory for the British led to them acquiring new lands in America, but at the same time causing conflict with the colonists.

Assignments Answer the four review questions for this lesson. Evaluate the map on slide 30. In your journal write who you believe got the better deal in the Treaty of Paris, Spain or England? Explain your answer. You will have a Unit 2 test after you complete Lesson 10