The French and Indian War

1. The French and Indian War Conflict in the Colonies

2. Before the War By 1750, the colonies were bursting with growth. In just under a century, the population had grown from a modest 50,000 to a bustling 1.25 million. What caused this rapid growth? Cheap Land Religious Tolerance Economic Opportunity No doubt these were the three major reasons for attracting colonists. Yet, a fourth reason, would be the catalyst for the war.

3. Reason #4: Self Government For more than a century, the British had, for the most part, left the colonies alone to solve their own problems. The colonists had grown accustomed to this. Sir Robert Walpole, pictured above, believed that a policy of salutary neglect, or policy of lenient enforcement of parliamentary laws, would keep the colonies loyal to the crown. During this time, colonists had learned to govern themselves. They elected their own assemblies, which could pass laws, levy taxes, and decide how that money would be spent. In fact, the colonists had more freedom to run their own affairs than any country in Europe. Can you think of an example of salutary neglect today? Is it effective? (HINT: Don’t think too hard…)

4. The War By 1750, the colonies were growing quickly and colonists were dreaming of moving across the Appalachian Mountains into the Ohio Valley. The problem? Both Britain and France claimed this territory. In 1754, the French made good on their claim by building a fort near the present-day city of Pittsburgh, called Fort Duquesne. Fort Duquesne Militia – a small army made up of ordinary citizens who are trained to fight in an emergency. This alarmed the Virginia governor, who then dispatched a small force of Virginia militia to drive the French out of the valley. Their leader? George Washington.

5. The War In 1754, Washington led a small group of soldiers on a march towards Fort Duquesne. He met a small, French scout party camped in the woods. He ordered his men to open fire. He won an easy victory. In 1755, the British sent 1,400 troops to finish what Washington had started. Washington joined them, hoping to make a good impression. It was a disaster. The British uniforms (bright red) made them easy targets for French sharpshooters and nearly 2/3 of the British troops were killed.

6. Effects of the French and Indian War The war raged for seven long years. The turning point came in 1759, when Britain captured Canada. In 1763, the British and French signed a peace treaty, the Treaty of Paris. As a result of this treaty, France ceded the eastern half of French Louisiana, from the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists were thrilled with this victory. Britain now controlled a vastly expanded colonial empire. Never before had colonists felt so proud to be British!

7. Proclamation of 1763 That good feeling lasted only a matter of months…because of this little line. Only months after quadrupling the size of their North American colonial holdings, the King passed handed down the Proclamation of 1763. The proclamation line was intended to separate settlers and Indians and avoid conflicts between them.

8. Proclamation of 1763 After acquiring this new territory from the French, King George III faced several problems. The first of these problems was how to keep colonists and American Indians from killing each other. King George III had a solution. Draw a line on the map, tell colonists to stay on one side and Indians on the other. Umm? To colonists the proclamation was tyranny, or an unjust use of government power. Many had already settled west of the Appalachians, with still more headed that way in search of good farmland. King George III One historian notes, “He is not regarded as a bright man. In fact, he was stupid, really stupid.” In order to keep the peace, Britain expanded its army to 7,500 men in the colonies.

9. Last Five How did the French and Indian War contribute to the sense of pride that colonists had in Britain? How did the Proclamation of 1763 damage that feeling and create resentment towards the British?