1. The Battle for north america
The 7 Years War
The Battle for north america

2. Brief summary…..Quick facts
When? The Seven Years' War (1756–63)
Where? Was the first global war, fought in Europe, India, and America, and at sea.
In NA, imperial rivals Britain and France struggled for supremacy.
Competition for land along the Ohio River valley
First Nations & their French allies on one side, and the British on the other.
Thirteen Colonies wanting to expand westward because they were running out of land- First Nations were fighting to keep their territory.

3. What nations were involved?
France and England were the main nations that were battling for land and power.
England only had Prussia (an old nation, now=Germany) as an ally.
France had Austria and Russia as allies.
The war was fought in Europe, North America…….and India, the coast of Africa, the Philippines, and among the islands of the Caribbean Sea.
Many historians feel that this was the first world war because it was fought all around the world.

4. Why did the 7 years war begin?
It is believed that this was not a new war, but that it was a continuation of the war that ended in 1748, which was fought over who would rule Austria.
A treaty was signed to “end” this war, but it only gave the countries a rest because it did not solve their problems.
By 1754, the competition for land in the Ohio River valley erupted into battle, with the First Nations & their French allies on one side and the British on the other.
First Nations fighting to keep their territory, while the 13 colonies wanted to expand westward.
The French were aiding the First Nations because they wanted to stop the expansion of the British colonies.

5. What was the significance of the Ohio river valley & Louisbourg?
The British decided to ignore the forts along the Ohio River and instead, block French ports so that the French forces in New France could not be resupplied.
This failed when a French fleet eluded the British blockade and resupplied New France. (oops)
But, the French had done little to no change to the defensive structure of the Louisbourg fortress, so the British recaptured it.
They destroyed it so that the French would never have it again.
The British were now used to battle in North America and drove the French out of the Ohio River valley for the rest of the war.
Where the war started in NA
The French built a series of forts along the Ohio River to safeguard their fur trading operations and to stop further British settlements.
The British sent troops with General Edward Braddock to claim these forts, but failed.
French and First Nations crushed the British force…the British withdrew after Braddock was killed.

6. What was the significance of the plains of abraham?
If Québec fell, so would new France
The French had lost a lot of their First Nations allies because of intolerance.
Plains of Abraham were less than 2km from the walls of Québec.
The British saw opportunity: In darkness they climbed a goat trail up a cliff to the plains.
The entire British force positioned themselves on the plains after overpowering the few French troops at the top of the cliff.
The battle was over within 15 minutes, the British took control.
Losing Québec severely impaired the French defense… captured the heart of New France, a symbolic victory for the British.

7. Who won and why? The british
The British destroyed the Louisbourg fortress.
They blocked supplies from making their way up the St. Lawrence River to Québec & bombarded them with canons.
The British overpowered the French by slowly taking control of their forts and gaining control of Québec.

8. What happened to new france after the 7 years war?
Under british rule
After the French surrendered Montréal, the British military transported the defeated French troops back to France.
French inhabitants of New France were told to return to France at their own expense.
Wealthy French merchants took up this offer.
But many French colonists chose to stay because they did not have the wealth to leave.
Britain had total control over New France and French colonies east of the Mississippi.

9. The results First Nations
Before the British took control, First Nations had good relationships with the French. The French travelled to and from trading posts and did not care to take land for farming- First Nations likes their arrangements and were important fur trading partners.
BUT, after the war First Nations lost their status as valued trading partners.
British took more land for farming and did not need relationships with First Nations.
The French had once prevented settlement of the British, but now First Nations feared losing their territories to farms.

10. results French Canadians Loss of French culture and language.
Feared they would be forced to join the Anglican Church.
Lost New France and French territories east of the Mississippi.
Felt betrayed by France because they were basically given up to the British and Spanish in the signing of The Treaty of Paris as trade agreements.

11. results Peoples of the 13 Colonies
Were angry because they thought that that they were fighting to gain land to the west, but this did not end up happening.
The Royal Proclamation established a boundary along the Appalachians and recognized First Nations’ title to the lands to the west.
This was after the British realized that the questions of rights for the First Nations in BNA was more complex than they had originally thought.

12. Watch & Listen
Watch 7 Year's War Clip