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Explore the intense competition and conflicts between France and England in North America from 1608-1763, as they fought for land, resources, and control of the continent.
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The Duel for America 1608-1763
France was late to the North American colonization party. England and Spain had built up a sizeable presence in the Americas before France was able to get its act together. However, by the turn of the 18th century France had made impressive gains.
The French dominated two key North American waterways. The St. Lawrence River The Mississippi River
One factor, more than any other accelerated the pace of French expansion. . .
Beaver fur was especially coveted in Europe to make men’s hats.
French fur trappers, with considerable assistance from Native Americans, followed the rivers of North America in search of beaver pelts.
These trappers often married into Native American tribes and ensured that relations between the French and the Native populations were fairly positive.
The one major exception to this was relations between the French and the Iroquois. The French allied themselves with the Huron tribe in a battle between the Huron and the Iroquois.
From this time on the Iroquois were the sworn enemy of the French, hampering trade and fur hunting in and around Iroquois lands.
To facilitate trade and to protect their interests, the French constructed a series of forts throughout their territory.
As the population of the British colonies grew, more colonists moved west in search of land.
The exact border between French and British territories was not officially established and colonial governments moved to stake their claim on their western edge.
This westward expansion became entangled in existing European tension between England, France and Spain which eventually led to bloodshed in North America.
France vs. England King William's War (1689-1697) Queen Anne's War (1702-1713) King George's War (1744-1748) Each of these conflicts began in Europe, pitted England against a united French and Spanish force, and eventually spilled over into North America.
France vs. England Both sides were supported by Native American tribes in each conflict. New England colonists fought for the British in each conflict invading French territory.
France vs. England England won all three wars.
France vs. England However, as each conflict also contained a European element and European diplomatic goals, the treaties ending each conflict allowed France to maintain a powerful North American presence.
By 1750, relations between the French government and the ever westward moving English colonists had reached a boiling point especially in the Ohio River valley.
Why the Ohio Valley? France England The Ohio was the key to linking their Canadian territory with their lands along the Mississippi. Colonists need more land for agriculture, trade, and other economic pursuits. Key area of trade and competition for beaver pelts. Aristocratic colonists in Virginia had claims to over 500,000 acres in the Valley.
Both sides moved to protect their interests. France relied on already constructed forts, most importantly Fort Duquesne, located at present day Pittsburgh. The governor of Virginia moved to make sure his colonists enjoyed the land they were “entitled” to.
In 1754 he sent this man into the Ohio Valley with 150 Virginia militiamen to secure Virginia’s claims. You know him better when he looks a little older.
Things didn’t go so well for Washington. While his initial attack worked, French reinforcements pushed him back and forced him toseek shelter behind the hastily constructed Fort Necessity.
Washington was forced to surrender after a 10 hour siege. Yet another was between Britain and France seemed inevitable.
Britain called for an assembly of representatives from all of the colonies to plan a common strategy against France. That meeting came to be known as the Albany Congress.
There Benjamin Franklin presented his Albany Plan of Union. - Proposal to create a unified government for the 13 colonies. - To be led by a “President General” selected and supported by the Crown. - Would include a “Grand Council” of representatives chosen by the various colonial assemblies. - Ultimately rejected by both the British government and the colonies.
While the Plan was never implemented, it was the first step on the path to colonial unity.
The more immediate purpose of the Albany Congress was to ensure that the Iroquois tribe remained loyal to the British in the looming conflict with France.
As a result of fighting in North America, the major powers of Europe found themselves on the brink of war. That war was officially declared in 1756. It would be a “world war.” Great Britain Prussia vs. France, Spain, Russia, Austria
The majority of the fighting in this war took place in Europe. However, several important battles took place in the British colonies.
Initially the most important occurred outside Ft. Duquesne where the French defeated British General Edward Braddock. This defeat left the entire western edge of the colonies open to French attack.
Things didn’t look so good for Great Britain until William Pitt rose to power in the British government.
He rallied support for the war amongst the American colonists agreeing to pay colonial governments for the cost of arming and equipping colonial militias.
He also decided to focus all British military action in North America on French strongholds in Canada.
This strategy resulted in stunning victories at Quebec in 1759 and Montreal in 1760. After these two key cities fell the ultimate defeat of the French was only a matter of time.
Treaty of Paris 1763 Francelost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India, and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River. Spaingot all French lands west of the Mississippi River, and New Orleans, but lost Florida to England. Englandgot all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade, and commercial dominance in India.
Impact on England Dramatic increase in the scope and size of the North American empire. Staggering increase in the amount of debt. Both of these spurred the decision to reorganize the American empire.
Impact on the Colonies The war united them against a common enemy for the first time. It gave them another shared experience, building on the experience of the Great Awakening. It created bitter feelings toward the British that would only grow stronger over time.
The war also opened up a ton of land for possible settlement. Colonists poured into this newly secured territory. While this land may have been cleared of the French, that didn’t mean it was vacant.
The Native American presence was still strong in the Ohio Valley. Colonial settlers increasingly clashed with Natives. Foremost among them were the Ottawa led by Chief Pontiac.
Assisted by remaining French fur traders, Pontiac led his Ottawa in a campaign to drive the colonists out of the Ohio Valley. His first target was Fort Detroit which he captured in the spring of 1763.
Pontiac’s Rebellion successfully drove the colonial presence out of all but three British outposts by the end of the year.
The British response was swift and brutal. One of the chief weapons they used against the Ottawa was… Smallpox
The British distributed blankets infected with smallpox to the Natives, in addition to killing them by more traditional means.
Pontiac’s Rebellion taught the British an important lesson. To secure their newly acquired lands it was best to establish “friendly” relations with the natives.
The best way to make sure relations remained peaceful was to make sure the Natives and the colonists remained separated from one another. Britain hoped to accomplish this through… The Proclamation of 1763
Settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains was prohibited under the Proclamation. Colonists openly violated the law and continued to flood into the newly acquired lands.
