The French and Indian War

1. The French and Indian War British and American Colonists v. French and their Indian allies

2. English Colonists on the eastern coast Founded towns Cleared land to plant crops French Settled inland Established forts Protected land claims The History of Britain and France in the Colonies RESULT: French have better relationship with the Native Americans

4. Conflict in the Ohio River Valley • 1754- King George II grants the colonists 200,000 acres of the Ohio River Valley • Colonists cross the Appalachians to survey the land and trade w/ the Indians • Dinwiddie’s Message • The French feel this is a threat to their holdings-they build a line of forts • Competition in this territory leads to war

5. Seven Years War? • The French Indian War (1754-1763) is also called the Seven Years War. Why? • The war started in the colonies in 1754, but started in Europe in 1756. • European name is the Seven Years War

6. The War • Difficult for Britain because of battle tactics • May 1754- British surrender Fort Necessity to French • French regain control of Ohio Valley • July 1755- French and Indians surprise the British • killed 1/3 of British forces including the British commander, Braddock • Braddock’s aide, George Washington survives and organizes a British retreat. • 1757-William Pitt becomes Britain’s prime minister • raised taxes • borrows money to fight the war, instills new effective leadership • 1758 Britain begins to successfully attack French forts and settlements

7. Who is going to win??? • July 1759- French retreat to Canada. The Iroquois, having played both sides, officially join the British. • Sept. 1759- fall of Quebec • Sept. 1760- British take city of Montréal (gives British control over all Canada) • George III ascends to the throne- Pitt is out of office! • 1761- British seize Fort Detroit and other posts on the Great Lakes • 1763- Treaty of Paris

8. Treaty of Paris1763 • Representatives form Great Britain, France, and Spain, France’s ally, meet • France turned over Canada to Britain • France surrenders claims to all land east of the Mississippi with the exception of New Orleans- given to Spain in a secret treaty a year before • British return Cuba, captured in the war, to Spain in exchange for Florida

11. Post-War = DRAMA! • British believed the colonists did not supply enough support for the costly war • American colonists were shocked at the weakness of Britain’s army • they even demanded to be led by colonial officers! • Americans found that Britain did not share their same values • Americans felt a lack of respect from the British

13. JP Zenger: Freedom of the Press and the Development of Political Parties

14. What’s happening? • By the time of the F and I war, all colonies are royal • Grievances are now not against an investment company or proprietor, but rather against the government itself • Colonists begin to unite in their frustrations with the GB government

15. Power structure • Monarchy • House of Lords • House of Commons • Parliament’s Committees • Colonial Governors • Colonial Legislature – Council • Colonial Legislature – Lower House

16. Landholders Albany and Hudson River area Fur traders Long-term land users Merchants NYC as center of interest Real estate speculators The emergence of political factions These divisions changed with the issue and changed over time, were not binding! In the 1660s, these factions become the first political parties, as people move from being issue-based to trying to get elected.

17. So, What’s with JPZ? • Key means of communication was the newspapers • Landholders in Albany start their own newspaper, editor is John Peter Zenger • JPZ publishes articles exposing the colonial governor’s corruption • The question: Can you be tried for libel if what you say is true? • In GB, JPZ would be tried and convicted, paper shut down

18. The Trial… • JPZ is tried by jury • NOT GUILTY! • Established the freedom of the press to criticize the government • Now colonists have more rights than other GB citizens…

19. The after effects • JPZ’s newspaper sponsored by the landholders in Albany helps get them elected… • The new governor in NY reestablishes the alignment of political parties with the landholders • Now we’re against the freedom of the press and the merchants are for it!

20. JPZ and the Constitution • Principles used in the JPZ case are used to justify political self-interest, but become a part of our written constitution… • in the long run, it ends up helping us that they were selfish in JPZ’s time!