Chapter 1 Section 4.2 Notes The French and Indian War The French empire in North America collided with the growing British empire French colonists were young, single men engaged in the fur trade and Catholic priests The French was more interested in exploiting North America than settling it The French enjoyed better relations with the Native Americans (alliances)

Chapter 1 Section 4.2 Notes The French and Indian War The major area of contention was the Ohio River valley The French built Fort Duquesne, this land had been granted to wealthy planters by the Virginia government Virginia sent a militia (ordinary citizens) to evict the French (George Washington) The French delivered a crushing defeat A year later general Edward Braddock launched an attack on Fort Duquesne with 1500 soldiers The French and their Native American allies ambushed the British soldiers (turned and fled)

Chapter 1 Section 4.2 Notes The French and Indian War Angered by French victories, King George II selected William Pitt as the new military leader British and colonial troops began winning battles They gained the support of the Iroquois The turning point was in 1759, the British troops defeated the French at Quebec with a surprise attack at night The war officially ended in 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris Britain gained Canada and all of North America east of the Mississippi Spain was permitted to keep possession of its land west of the Mississippi

Chapter 1 Section 4.2 Notes The French and Indian War The Native Americans found the British much harder to deal with than the French Native Americans captured eight British forts in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area The British eventually presented contaminated blankets to the Native Americans at a peace negotiation Weakened by disease the Native American groups negotiated treaties with the British The British government established the Proclamation of 1763 (prohibited colonists from crossing the Appalachians) Colonists ignored the proclamation