By 1750, Britain & France had become serious rivals because: Both nations used mercantilism to expand their colonial claims in order to increase their wealth Both nations used mercantilism to expand their colonial claims in order to increase their wealth Britain & France went to war 3 times in Europe from 1690-1750 These wars in Europe meant that their colonists would fight too

The growth of the British & French colonies impacted Indians: French alliances grew stronger British colonists had many conflicts with natives 1754  Albany Congress  British settlers meet to discuss the common problem of Indian attacks Ben Franklin suggested the Albany Plan of Union (coordinated colonial army) but plan was not approved

In 1754, VA governor sent 22 year old George Washington to protect British land claims in the west Washington’s troops were forced to retreat from Fort Duquesne; This clash proved to be the beginning of the French & Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) Britain & the North American colonists France, their colonists, & Indian allies vs

1757, British Prime Minister William Pitt issued a “blank check” to win the war War started in N. America (1754-1763), but became part of a larger “world” war (Seven Years War)

The war officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763 France lost Canada, most of its empire in India, & claims to lands east of the Mississippi River Spain got all lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans England gained all French lands in Canada & exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade North America 1754 North America 1763

North America 1763 The French & Indian War changed the relationship between Britain & the American colonists Colonists excited about the possibility of new land in the west Colonists learned new guerilla fighting tactics from the Indians The “blank check” led to huge war debts that Parliament expected colonist to help pay

North America 1763 The British began governing more strictly (no more salutary neglect): The expensive British army was not removed Parliament closed the west due to continued problems with Native Americans. Pontiac’s Rebellion led to the Proclamation Line of 1763 New taxes & laws were passed by Parliament (not colonial assemblies Britain wants more control but colonists want to hang onto their power…this struggle is the beginning of the road to colonial independence

The Road to Revolution (1763-1776) The end of the French & Indian War (1763), marked the start of the road towards the American Revolution Copy the flow chart from the board in your notes

By December 1775, the British and American colonists were fighting an “informal revolutionary war”…but: Colonial leaders had not yet declared independence In 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense convinced many neutral colonists to support independence from Britain

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author By July 1776, enough Americans were “patriots” that members of the Second Continental Congress formed a 5-man committee to draft a Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author All men are born with “natural rights” of life, liberty, & property Citizens can break their social contract with their gov’t when their gov’t becomes tyrannical It was based on the “enlightened” ideas of John Locke & explained why the colonists were rebelling

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the American Revolution The treaty gave America: Full independence All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & Florida The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America

North America 1754 North America 1763 North America 1783