1 / 15

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 1750 – France and GB chief rivals for empire British and French were both interested in the Ohio River Valley Had been fighting for power in Europe Spilled over into America British cleared land, grew crops. Rivals for an Empire.

lundy
Download Presentation

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

  2. 1750 – France and GB chief rivals for empire • British and French were both interested in the Ohio River Valley • Had been fighting for power in Europe • Spilled over into America • British cleared land, grew crops Rivals for an Empire

  3. France’s North American Empire • 1608 – Quebec 1st permanent settlement – Samuel de Champlain • By 1754 New France had grown to 70,000 including entire Miss. Valley (1 million for GB) • Mostly fur traders & catholic priests neither look to settle • Friendlier relations with Natives – Huron's, Ottawa's, Ojibwa’s – led to military alliances

  4. Britain defeats an old enemy • Lt. Gov. of VA Dinwiddie called upon George Washington, an officer in the Virginia militia, to raise a force against the French • (May 1754) Washington marched troops towards the Ohio River

  5. 1754 – rivalry re-ignited – French built Ft. Duquesne (Pittsburg) British had given 200,000 acres wealthy farmers – GB sends militia to evict French George Washington (22 year old officer) – set up Ft. Necessity (40 miles) – battled French and forced Washington to surrender 1st Battle of French and Indian War Britain defeats an old enemy

  6. Albany Conference • Drafted the Albany Plan of Union • Developed by a committee led by Benjamin Franklin • Proposed that the colonies unite to form a central government vs. French and Indians • Was approved by the delegates; rejected by the colonial legislatures

  7. Early French Victories • (1755) British commander-in-chief General Edward Braddock arrived in Virginia with troops • Joined with local militia • George Washington served as his aide • Together, they headed west, intending to attack Fort Duquesne

  8. Just short of the Fort, Braddock’s troops were ambushed by French and Native American forces • Braddock was killed • Surprised British, many fled – Washington stayed and fought & organized a successful retreat • colonist began to questions British Army

  9. (1756) Fighting between Britain and France spread to Europe [Seven Year’s War] • The British still focused their energy, time, and troops on North America • (1757) William Pitt becomes prime minister of Britain • Believed that the entire British Empire was at stake. • Persuaded Parliament to raise taxes and borrow money to fight the war…it worked Pitt & Iroquois turn the tide

  10. Pitt & Iroquois turn the tide The three main thrusts of British strategy are shown here. • In 1758, British forces struck in two directions • French strongholds in the West • Louisbourg in the East • Finally, in 1759, they attacked Quebec and Montreal.

  11. Pitt & Iroquois turn the tide • (1759) British fleet commanded by General James Wolfe sailed up the St. Lawrence to Quebec City • Wolfe took his troops up a steep cliff • Fought Montcalm, the French General • Both Wolfe and Montcalm were killed • The British were victorious – Quebec surrendered

  12. The Treaty of Paris was drafted in 1763 to end the French and Indian and Seven Year’s Wars France turned present-day Canada over to Britain Surrendered its claim to all lands east of the Mississippi River. Britain also returned Cuba to Spain in exchange for Florida. The Treaty of Paris

  13. Ottawa leader Pontiac recognized French loss bad for Native Americans NA attack and capture 8 British Ft. – British give smallpox infected blankets – by 1765 sign treaties British Govt’ issues the Proclamation of 1763 – banned settlement's W of Appalachian Mts. Victory brings new problems

  14. The French and Indian War & Proclamation seriously strained relations between the British and the American colonists. • Mass – British tensions over smuggling and searching homes • British thought that the colonists did not provide enough support for the long and costly war that Britain had fought to protect them. • Left Standing Army in the colonies (10,000) • George Grenville – new PM • Passed Sugar Act 1764 – lower tax on Molasses, duties on imports – Smuggling trials in more serious courts • The American colonists were shocked by the weakness of British military tactics. • These feelings would soon combine with other events to expand the rift between Britain and its colonies. Victory brings new problems

More Related