ROAD TO REVOLUTION Mrs. Straka

SETTING THE TONE… ➤ Between the American Colonists had already developed a large degree of self-government. ➤ At this point in time there are two things to consider about the Colonists in America ➤ They are still loyal to the British Monarch ➤ They are extremely proud of the work that they had put into winning the rights that they have.

COMPETING EMPIRES ➤ By the middle of the 1700s France and Britain still each controlled large portions of North America. This naturally caused conflict between the two entities. Each had the fear that the other wanted to take their land in order to continue to help their area grow. ➤ This would eventually lead to war.

➤ Native Americans lived on most of the land that was controlled by the two powers. ➤ There were not great numbers of French settlers, so they did not really conflict with the Native Americans. The Native Americans did not see them as a huge threat to their land. ➤ The British however had many more settlers and needed land to farm. They began to push the Indians further and further out towards the west. ➤ Eventually the British even pushed into the Ohio River Valley lands that were owned by the French. This would cause conflict between the two powers.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR BEGINS….. ➤ In 1753, The French began building forts to back their claim to the land between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. ➤ This came as a surprise to to the Virginia Colony since they had just claimed the Ohio River Valley lands for themselves. ➤ So the governor of Virginia sent soldiers to order the French to leave ➤ The leader of the soldiers that were selected was….George Washington. ➤ Washington takes his militia and warns the French, but the French rejected the warning.

➤ A year passes with no change. Washington then travels west once again. This time he goes to build a fort along the Ohio River. ➤ He arrived too late. When he got there he found that the French had already built their own fort there (Fort Duquesne - Du Kane) ➤ Washington then decided to march slightly south and build his own fort. Fort Necessity. ➤ Washington attacked a small group of French and won, but was then greeted by a much larger French army which forced Washington to surrender. He then went back to Virginia with a message. ➤ The Message: The French would never give up the Ohio River Valley.

ALBANY CONGRESS ➤ Britain was aware of the problems in North America and felt that a war was coming soon. They called a meeting in Albany, NY where all the colonial leaders were to meet. ➤ Also invited: The Iroquois ➤ The British basically wanted the Colonists to agree that they would stand up against the British. ➤ The Iroquois would not form an alliance with the British. Mostly because they thought the British would lose the war.

“ Join, or die -Ben Franklin

ALBANY PLAN ➤ So….Franklin draws up a plan. ➤ The Albany Plan of Union ➤ This plan calls for a council of representatives elected by the colonial assemblies. ➤ This council could have authority over western settlements relationships with native americans. It could also organize armies and collect taxes to pay expenses. ➤ The Albany Congress approved the plan, but the colonial assemblies rejected it because they wanted to be in control of their own taxes and armies.

“ Everyone cries that union is necessary, but they behave like weak noodles when the time comes to take action.” -Ben Franklin

EARLY ON BRITISH DEFEATS… ➤ Washington returns and the British decide that they must push the French out of the Ohio River Valley. ➤ General Edward Braddock was sent to Virginia with order to captures Fort Duquesne. Colonel Washington tagged along as a volunteer. ➤ Braddock was from Britain and knew how the British fought. They fought in formations in open fields. The problem was that he was not in Britain. He was in North America and they fought very different here. The colonial soldiers tried to warn Braddock, but he would not listen. His troops were ambushed and more than half of his men were killed…including Braddock himself.

➤ Those were not the only setbacks that the British had. ➤ They were not able to take Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario ➤ The British lost many troops due to ambushes ➤ Because the British were not looking to promising in the war department..the Iroquois leaders held strong with their decision to not join their side ➤ In 1756 Britain declares war on France - Marking the official start of the 7 years war. ➤ Shortly after the French troops destroyed Britain’s Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario.

ALL IS NOT LOST BY THE BRITISH. THE BRITISH TURN THE TIDE ➤ In 1757 the situation starts to improve for Britain. ➤ William Pitt becomes prime minister. ➤ Under his command the war enters a new phase. ➤ Britain scored their first major victory in the war. They captured the fort at Louisbourg. Then they took Fort Duquesne…and renamed it Fort Pitt - which later became the city of Pittsburgh. ➤ Since the British were not completely losing the war anymore, the Iroquois decided to join their side. ➤ More victories sets the stage for the British attack on Quebec and the key battle of the war. ➤ Britain wins the battle at Quebec and the French could no longer hold onto North America after that. They surrendered. ➤ Britain gained French Canada and al of the French territory east of the Mississippi with the exception of New Orleans. They also received Spanish Florida ➤ All the territory west of New Orleans went to the Spanish. ➤ Native Americans lost a great deal as well. Without the help of the French the Native Americans could not stop the British from taking over their lands.