1. Grade 7 History Ms. Willis
Treaty of Utrecht
Grade 7 History
Ms. Willis

2. Treaty of Utrecht What is a Treaty? Causes Consequences
Historical Perspectives
Historical Significance
Continuity and Change

3. What is a treaty?
“A formal agreement between countries, often signed to end a war. It often defines borders and identifies the ownership of different pieces of land.”

4. Cause of the Treaty of Utrecht
In 1700, the King of Spain died without an heir.
France took the opportunity to try to seize Spain and it’s territories (which included territories in NA).
This started the War of Spanish Succession in Europe.
Britain and many other countries joined together to fight against France.
Peace talks began and led to the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

6. Consequences
France had to give up some of its territory in NA as part of the treaty.
Newfoundland and parts of Acadia (now New Brunswick) was given to Britain. This created problems for the French people living in these territories.

7. consequences Confusion?
Much of the land remained disputed. This is because the wording of the treaty referred to “ancient boundaries” which no one knew the exact location of!
There was also a lot of land that had yet to be explored and mapped.

8. Historical perspectives
French: lost some of their land. Some French settlements had been there for years and the people did not want to move from their homes and the lands they farmed.
Britain: gained land. Did not like the French to be profiting from their land.
First Nations: were not consulted in any of the land claims. They continued to lose land as the British settled in new areas. Some tribes were forced from their homes and sometimes killed or forced into slavery. But the British also used First Nations for the fur trade, so some tribes benefited.

9. Historical significance
The Treaty of Utrecht and the resulting change of boundaries was the start of Britain’s growing power within North America.
The location of British land also gave Britain control over the source of supplies to New France as they controlled land on both sides of the entrance to St. Lawrence River. This made New France very insecure.

10. Continuity and Change Continuity:
The fur trade continued to grow and trade with First Nations flourished.
Change:
Competition between French and English traders increased.
Both French and English formed alliances with different First Nations tribes.
France felt less and less secure as it lost its control over the entrance to the St. Lawrence River
Tensions between New France and British North America grew.

11. sources
Christou, Collishaw, Hallman-Chong, Hendricks. History 7. Nelson Education, 2016
Bain, Colin. Canadian History 7. Pearson Education Canada,