Seven Years War

1. Seven Years War November 19, 2012

2. War Between Britain and France • 1756 to 1763 • A war that was not just in New France, but in Europe, and also India

3. War was Inevitable • Britain and France would go to war because of their colonies in North America • Both countries had followed different practices when it came to settlement • FRENCH: • lived in rural areas with small compact colonies • Economy was focused on agriculture and the fur trade • British: had the ‘Thirteen Colonies’ that settled in large, urban-like settlements • Economy was focused on industry and commerce • Constant threat of expansion for economic growth by the British, caused France to look at containment

4. Policy of Containment • Restraining political power of a hostile country • Restraining ideological power of a hostile country

5. Fort Duquesne • Ohio country – in 1749 the British organized to promote settlement there • This land had been claimed by the French • First shots of the Seven Year’s War broke out here • French were successful, but they feared the thirteen colonies wanted to expand and assume control of more territory • Thirteen colonies realized they needed a unified military strategy against the French, and regular troops would be needed

7. Fort Duquesne

8. French Success 1754-1756 • French were successful even though the British outnumbered them 12 to 1 • Guerrilla Warfare strategy • French had Native support • Never met the British on open ground, no traditional battles were fought during this time

9. Guerilla warfare • Small group of combatants use military tactics to harass a larger and less mobile traditional army • Eg. Ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, the element of surprise • Strike at a vulnerable target, withdraw immediately

10. Tide Turns 1756-1763 • In 1756, the conflict went global – fighting took place in Europe and in their colonies around the world • Britain was determined to destroy France’s colonial empire • 20,000 soldiers were sent to America

11. Louisbourg • A place of tremendous strategic importance • This would control the entrance of the St. Lawrence River, giving them direct access to New France • James Wolfe and Jeffery Amherst laid siege to Louisbourg for seven weeks with 200 British ships • Britain had the most powerful navy in the world at this time • What do you think would happen if Louisbourg fell? What would that mean for the French?

12. Louisbourg • The French navy would not be able to supply and reinforce the colonies, especially New France • On July 26, 1758 the French surrendered Louisbourg and the Fort was destroyed.

16. Controlling Ohio Valley • British wanted to reduce French influence in the valley • After the fall of Louisbourg, the French continued to lose a number of battles in the Ohio area • This gave the British more access to the Great Lake region, and access to Montreal • Significance: After gaining control of both the Ohio Valley and Louisbourg, the British were well positioned for the final assault on Quebec

17. Fall of Quebec • Quebec was the heart of French power in North America • General Wolfe lead the British attack in the spring of 1759 • Wolfe attacked the city of Quebec for two months • Troops were ordered to slash and burn the farms around the city • He was desperate to capture Quebec before the winter set in and his Navy would have to leave the St. Lawrence River

18. Fall of Quebec • September Attack • Wolfe decided to capture Quebec by moving up river • British forces were able to use a small path to scale the steep cliffs and land west of Quebec on the Plains of Abraham

19. Wolfe

20. Major General James Wolfe • 1727-1759 • Most known for leading the victory over the French in Canada on the Plains of Abraham • Fought several battles in Europe • Trained in European military tactics • He was second in command on the attack on Louisbourg • Known as “The Hero of Quebec”, “The Conqueror of Quebec” and “The Conqueror of Canada” • Died in Battle from three musketballs

21. Death of General Wolfe

22. Plains of Abraham

23. Plains of Abraham: The British • Commanded by General Wolfe • Had a large army of regular British troops • Wolfe’s soldiers were better trained and professional soldiers, they easily pushed the French troops back • In less than an hour, the battle was over – the British were victorious • Wolfe was dead

24. Plains of Abraham: French • Under the command of Montcalm • Traditional military leader, also trained in European tactics • Accustomed to having trained soldiers • Montcalm ordered his men on the battle field of the Plains of Abraham against the British • Troops were equally numbered, but the French were not as well trained • French fighting force was made of up local soldiers and Native people • Few regular troops were present who understood how to fight in European style • In less than an hour, the French were defeated, Montcalm was dead

25. Fall 1759- Fall 1760 • French tried to take the land back when the soldiers returned to England for the winter • September 1760, the Governor of Quebec – Vaudreuil surrendered all of New France’s North American empire to Britain France was now a BRITISH COLONY!!!

26. Treaty of Paris 1763 • France was defeated around the world • West Indies, the subcontinent of India, Europe and North America • In the Treaty of Paris, France was permitted to keep their fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland • France kept the two small Islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, where it could dry the fish they caught • Was given the choice – Canada or Guadeloupe • Guadeloupe was seen as more economically viable due to the sugar industry, as beaver pelts were going out of fashion

27. Treaty • Legal agreement between two governments to establish laws and decisions.

28. Who wasn’t invited to the Treaty? Why do you think this is?

29. Effects of the Seven Years War • Canada was now under British Rule • The Conquest made Canada a British colony with British institutions, including parliamentary government and the monarchy • For Americans, the Seven Years' War was a triumph that set them on the road to independence. With the French threat eliminated, the American colonies no longer needed British protection • Natives are now forced to make new alliances with the British, and are unhappy, as they had worked closely with the French • The British permitted the Acadians to return to the Maritimes after the end of the war • That aside, the conquest was a catastrophe for French Canadians as new France turned into a small province in Britain's North American Empire