French and Indian War 1754-1763

1. French and Indian War1754-1763 Britain and France Fighting to Maintain the Balance Of Power in the Colonies

2. Tensions Explode! • France and England, by the late 17th century were at war, almost continuously, both in Europe and in the New World • Land = Power and neither was willing to budge an inch

3. Results of Prolonged Conflicts • Many colonial men died • Enormous debt • Britain establishes large navy and standing army • England excites a jingoist* sense of nationalism *ready to rage war; belligerent

4. Ohio River Valley • Both Britain and France claimed this land as theirs. • Adjunct-general of Virginia, Major George Washington tried to warn off French – failed • British build a fort on Ohio River • French come, destroy that fort, build a bigger fort – Ft. Duquesne

5. Washington, 1754 • Heads off with a few men and Indian allies • Meets a French regiment at Great Meadows – first shots of this long war • Washington retreated, but he became world famous at the age of 22!

7. June 19 – July 10, 1754 in Albany, N.Y. All colonies from Maryland north met to discuss precautions and tactics Ben Franklin suggests his Plan of Union Plan of Union- a way to unite the colonies in both military and government Plan was rejected both by the crown and the colonies The Albany Congress

9. General Braddock’s Defeat • Commander-in-chief of British forces in America • Planned attack on Ft. Duquesne • Thousands of Indians and Frenchmen dressed as Indians jump out of woods • Braddock is killed and most of Britain's supplies and artillery were abandoned.

11. Quebec 1759 • This was the most decisive battle of the war • Britain devastated the French forces • This battle virtually ended French power in North America for all time

12. Peace of Paris, 1763 • Ended the war and French presence in North America • Britain takes all French possessions east of the Mississippi and Spanish Florida. • France gave Spain Louisiana

13. Britain’s Irony • In gaining Canada, the British put a plan into action that will result in their loss of all the rest of British North America – The American Revolution!

14. American, not British • After the war, more colonists see themselves as American, rather than British • Many of the soldiers, esp. those from New England, became convinced of their moral superiority to the British soldier

15. Writs of Assistance • These were issued by Britain • They were general search warrants that allowed officers to enter any place during daylight to seek evidence of illegal trade • Many colonists were still trading with France (molasses) • James Otis was hired to fight these writs in court • He lost, but made the provocative argument that these acts from Parliament should be seen as “instruments of slavery” in violation of the British constitution and therefore void!

16. Problems • Who should manage the defense of these new possessions? • What should be done about the western lands inhabited by Indians, but coveted by whites? • How should the British handle the debt of the war? • What role should the colonists play in all of this?

18. Proclamation of 1763 • This drew a line along the crest of the Appalachians beyond which white settlers were forbidden to go • This line did not stay intact long due to various, dubious treaties made with Indians • Many hardy settlers headed west!