1. The Great War for Empire
Sasso
US I

2. Setting the Stage King William’s War Queen Anne’s War
King George’s War

3. The Competition for North America (Mid 1700s)
England
Already loosely controlling the Atlantic Seaboard
France
Large territorial claims through the middle of North America
Native Americans
Moved off original lands; trying to determine what is best for them
Colonists
Confined to the Atlantic Seaboard

4. The Beginnings
The Iroquois Confederacy held a dominant position in fur trade
Iroquois open up fur trade in the Ohio Valley to the British
French interpret this as being aggressive (territory was disputed)
French start building massive forts throughout the area
Fort Duquesne is one of the crown jewels

5. The Beginnings England and France both overreact
VA militia under the command of George Washington is called out
GW is only 22 at the time, and really inexperienced militarily
He makes a mistake…calls for an assault on a French scouting party
French retaliate (and totally humiliate GW in the process)
These are the first skirmishes of the French and Indian War

6. The French and Indian War
The war has multiple names, depending on location
French and Indian War (America)
Great War for Empire (England)
Seven Years War (Continental Europe)
The war has three distinct phases

7. Phase 1 (1754-1756) Largely a North American conflict at this stage
England and France are occupied in Europe
The bulk of the fighting consists of colonists defending against Native raids- Natives were excited by what they felt was English weakness
One large English Advance led by General Edward Braddock
They are routed by the French and Indians

8. Phase 2 ( )
England and France will formally declare war on one another
The conflict now goes global
Fighting erupts in America, the West Indies, India, and Europe
However, the main war is being waged in America

9. Phase 2 ( )
Up to this point the battle effort had been locally controlled and fought by the colonists
England now looks to assert more authority over the war
England’s policies will shift significantly under the direction of Prime Minister William Pitt

10. William Pitt Pitt firmly brings the war under English control
Personally plans war strategies
Appoints commanders
Issues orders to the colonists
“Impressment”- forcing colonial citizens into the British military
Additionally- had soldiers seize whatever goods they needed…usually without paying for them
Creates a lot of resentment and tension between the colonists and British

11. Phase 3 ( )
Colonists will protest against British orders and requests, sometimes violently
After 1758, Pitt will have to relax some of his earlier policies
Realizes that he will have to utilize more British regulars (instead of colonial militias) if he wants to secure a victory against the French
Recruitment will be given back to colonial authorities; leads to a troop surge in favor of the British
The French had always been outnumbered; troop surge will be too much for the French and Natives to handle
The tides of war will start to turn in favor of the British

12. Phase 3 ( )
By mid-1758 the British regulars and colonial militias are taking French strongholds at will
Ft. Duquesne will fall without a fight
Generals Jeffrey Amherst and James Wolfe
The greatest victory comes at Quebec, 9/13/1759
Quebec was supposed to be impenetrable
This is the beginning of the end for the French
French will formally surrender to Amherst in September of 1760

13. The Treaty of Paris Treaty will not be completed until 1763
French losses are great
France is forced to give England all colonial lands up to the Mississippi River, as well as Caribbean territories
France must also give New Orleans and all of their land West of the Mississippi River to Spain
Big picture: France is out of North America

14. Effects France is out of North America
England
Greatly expands England’s territory in the new world (at least 2x)
This will greatly increase problems as well
Debt increases significantly
English dislike for Americans will increase
It is the English belief that this war was fought for the benefit of the Americans, but the Americans are unappreciative
England feels that a major reorganization of America has to take place
France
France is out of North America
France is not happy about that, and will carry some serious bitterness
Will look for revenge on the English

15. Effects British victory is a disaster
American Colonists
Interesting situation
Since England’s land has doubled, American land has doubled
Colonists really want to expand westward
As a result of the war, the colonies had been unified against a common enemy for the first time
Colonists starting to really resent British authority
Policies enforced during the war will leave lasting scars
Native Americans
British victory is a disaster
The tribes that sided and fought alongside the French will not be forgotten by the English or the Americans
The Iroquois will begin to crumble from within
Native Americans will never again have a position to deal with European rivals
Their relationships with American colonists will deteriorate quickly