The Seven Years' War (1756-63) Battle for a Continent 4 years in North America- 7 years in Europe

Roots of War: The Ohio Valley Conflict between French and English in Ohio Valley Thirteen Colonies want to expand westward into fertile Ohio Valley Main obstacle: French presence at Fort Duquesne

The Ohio Valley Conflict 1754: George Washington leads Virginia militia into Ohio valley, building Fort Necessity French forces drive Washington from Ohio 1755: British General Edward Braddock sent into Ohio to defeat French Braddock's army ambushed and killed by French and native forces

1756: Declaration of War Britain and France officially declare war on one another French forces in North America led by Marquis de Montcalm register early victories at Oswego and Fort William Henry

The British Response Early French successes lead British Secretary of State William Pitt to change strategy Pitt 's conclusion: war will be won or lost in North America Pitt devises plan to capture significant French fortifications in North America using British and colonial military forces

Seige of Louisbourg (1758) Spring 1758: British form expedition and lay seige to French fortress of Louisbourg Fortress surrenders in July Too late in season to mount an expedition against New France

Seige of Quebec (1759) Spring 1759: British forces enter St. Lawrence and lay seige to Quebec Several unsuccessful attempts to capture the Citadel throughout the summer of 1759 September 13, 1759: James Wolfe undertakes daring landing up river from Quebec

Battle of the Plains of Abraham French commander Montcalm decides to march out of Citadel and fight Wolfe's forces The two armies meet on the Plains of Abraham, where the French are defeated in a brief battle French forces retreat up river to Montreal

Big Stairs! Big Stairs—they were not there during the siege of Quebec http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4eVwzZ9a_A

Montreal (1760) French forces regroup and winter at Montreal Their only hope lies with the arrival of French reinforcements in the spring of 1760 British vessels are first to arrive, carrying soldiers that lay seige to Montreal French forces surrender on September 8, 1760 War in North America ends

Treaty of Paris (1763) War in Europe last another three years Two sides sign Treaty of Paris (1763), ending Seven Years' War France surrenders New France to Britain Colony of New France transformed into the British colony of Quebec