Colonial Rivalry: The French and Indian War

Colonial Rivalry By the mid-1700s, England, France, Spain & the Netherlands were locked in a struggle for EMPIRE— Competing to conquer and maintain the largest amount of foreign territory. In North America, the two biggest rivals were Britain and France… And each wanted to expel the other from the Continent.

An IMPERIAL power is one that... A.) uses its military to maintain world peace. B.) works with other nations in pursuit of common economic goals. C.) expands by conquering new territory. D.) tends to adopt "isolationist" policies.

The French in North America The French were primarily active in ONE activity: Trading for, trapping and selling FUR. French settlements were in INTERIOR of North America… And were mostly limited to solitary forts, deep in the wilderness. The French footprint was SMALL… And they generally got along well with the Indians… Who viewed French forts as convenient TRADING POSTS.

The British in North America The British economy was based on TWO THINGS: COMMERCE, and… AGRICULTURE. British settlements were on the COAST… And took the form of villages, towns and large CITIES. In order to farm, the British cleared LARGE AREAS of land… And were continually in CONFLICT with the Indians… With whom they had a relationship of MUTUAL HATRED.

What was the PRIMARY goal of French activity in North America? A.) to challenge the British for control of Canada. B.) to take part in the fur trade. C.) to explore undiscovered territory. D.) to seek religious freedom.

Which colonial power most depended upon peaceful relations with the Native Americans? A.) the French. B.) the British.

War Breaks Out In 1754, the French constructed a fort in Western Pennsylvania… Territory that had already been CLAIMED by the British. George Washington was selected to lead an attack of the Fort… The attack FAILED (which would set a pattern for most of his military career). But it led to the OUTBREAK of the French and Indian War.

Who Fought in the French and Indian War? VS. + *The French and Indian War is called the Seven Years’ War in Europe.

The French and Indian War... A.) was a struggle between the French and the Indians for control over the Ohio River Valley. B.) united the empires of Britain and France against Indian aggression. C.) was primarily a war over the limits of religious freedom in the colonies. D.) was a struggle between the British Empire and Imperial France for control of North America.

Early British Defeats The French and the Indians won almost every major battle during the first half of the war— One principal reason was that the British continued to fight in formation— And French/Indian forces used the far more effective tactics of guerilla warfare.

The British Turn the Tide The British were finally able to use their Navy to cut off French supply ships from accessing North America— Leading to French forces running out of food and ammunition— And to many of their Indian allies abandoning the war. When the British captured Quebec, Montreal and Detroit in the winter of … The war ended in North America— But dragged on in Europe for another three years— Before the French surrendered in 1763.

The Treaty of Paris, 1763 France lost CANADA… And ALL territories in North America. The British traded CUBA to SPAIN for FLORIDA… SPAIN received all territory WEST of the Mississippi.

The Results of the War During the war, British Redcoats had treated their American counterparts disrespectfully— Believing them to crude, uneducated commoners… And since the war had been expensive, the British government began to consider new TAXES on the American colonists. Americans considered the Redcoats’ tactics to be simply unintelligent— And also disliked their attitude of superiority. This war, therefore, was the beginning of the American/British divorce.

From an American perspective, the French and Indian war is important because... A.) it led to British control of both Cuba and Louisiana. B.) highlighted the cultural differences between American colonials and their British rulers. C.) ensured that the colonial territories would secure total religious freedom. D.) attracted worldwide attention to British mistreatment of the Native Americans.