The Great War for Empire

1. The Great War for Empire Sasso US I

2. Setting the Stage • King William’s War • Queen Anne’s War • King George’s War

3. The Competition for North America (Mid 1700s)

4. The Beginnings • The Iroquois Confederacy held a dominant position in fur trade • Iroquois open up fur trade in the Ohio Valley to the British • French interpret this as being aggressive (territory was disputed) • French start building massive forts throughout the area • Fort Duquesne is one of the crown jewels

5. The Beginnings • England and France both overreact • VA militia under the command of George Washington is called out • GW is only 22 at the time, and really inexperienced militarily • He screws up…calls for an assault on a French scouting party • French retaliate (and totally humiliate GW) • These are the first skirmishes of the French and Indian War

6. The French and Indian War • Has multiple names • French and Indian War (America) • Great War for Empire (England) • Seven Years War (Continental Europe) • War is broken down into three distinct phases

7. Phase 1 (1754-1756) • Largely a North American conflict at this stage • England and France are occupied in Europe • The bulk of the fighting consists of colonists defending against Native raids- Natives were excited by what they felt was English weakness • One large English Advance led by General Edward Braddock • They are routed by the French and Indians

8. Phase 2 (1756-1758) • England and France will formally declare war on one another • The conflict now goes global • Fighting in America, West Indies, India, and Europe • The main war is being waged in America

9. Phase 2 (1756-1758) • Up to this point the battle effort had been locally controlled and fought by the colonists • Now England is going to look to assert more authority over the war • Things change under the supervision of England’s William Pitt

10. William Pitt • Pitt will bring the war under English control • Personally plans war strategies • Appoints commanders • Issues orders to the colonists • “Impressment”- forcing colonial citizens into the British military • Additionally- had soldiers seize whatever goods they needed…usually without paying for them • Creates a lot of resentment and tension between the colonists and British

11. Phase 3 (1758-1763) • Colonists will protest against British orders and requests, sometimes violently • After 1758, Pitt (now the prime minister) will have to relax some of his earlier policies • Realizes that he will have to send more British regulars if he wants to secure a victory against the French • Recruitment will be given back to colonial authorities; there will be a troop surge in favor of the British • French had always been outnumbered, even during their great success • This will be too much for the French and Natives to handle • The tide will start to turn in favor of the British

12. Phase 3 (1758-1763) • By mid-1758 the British regulars and colonial militias are taking French strongholds at will • Ft. Duquesne will fall without a fight • Generals Jeffrey Amherst and James Wolfe • The greatest victory comes at Quebec, 9/13/1759 • Quebec was supposed to be impenetrable • This is the beginning of the end for the French • French will formally surrender to Amherst in September of 1760

13. The Treaty of Paris • Treaty will not be completed until 1763 • French losses are great • Are forced to give England all American land up to the Mississippi River • Also give England islands in the Caribbean • France must also give New Orleans and all of their land West of the Mississippi River to Spain • France is out of North America

14. Effects England • Greatly expands England’s territory in the new world (at least 2x) • This will greatly increase problems as well • Debt increases significantly • English dislike for Americans will increase • It is the English belief that this war was fought for the benefit of the Americans • England feels that a major reorganization of America has to take place • France is out of North America • France will carry some serious bitterness • Will look for revenge on the English France

15. Effects American Colonists • Interesting situation • Since England’s land has doubled, their land has doubled • Really want to expand • For the first time, the colonies had been unified against a common enemy • Starting to really resent the British • Policies enforced during the war will leave lasting scars • British victory is a disaster • The tribes that sided with the French will not be forgotten by the English or the Americans • The Iroquois will begin to crumble from within • Native Americans will never again have a position to deal with European rivals • Going to get real ugly Native Americans