Connecticut Yankee Travel Agency The French and Indian War

Chapter 4-4 EXPANDING WESTWARD As the British colonies expanded westward, they meet resistance from both Native Americans and French

colonists. In Puritan New England , the Wampanoag's led by Metacom, (whom the Puritans called King Philip) attempted in 1675 to halt further

English settlement after several of their warriors were killed by settlers.

The Native Americans destroyed 12 villages in a series of deadly raids The Native Americans destroyed 12 villages in a series of deadly raids. The war ended in August 1676 when Metacom was killed.

The Native American tribe the Mohawks, aided the colonists final victory in King Philips War. The Mohawks were members

of the Iroquois League. In the mid-1600’s, the Iroquois, who were allies of the Dutch in New Netherland, had gained control

of the beaver pelt trade in the northeast. The Iroquois prospered (did well) through a mixture of war, diplomacy and trade policies.

The Iroquois gathered pelts from other tribes and sold them to the English. They also cooperated with the French when it was in their best interests to do so.

Trouble in Ohio Country In 1718, Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, had warned the British that the French were building

many forts near the colonies many forts near the colonies. The French were also complaining about the English settlements and activities on Lake Ontario.

The Great Lakes continued to be a source of tension between the two European powers. It was only after each tried to establish military posts

deep in the Ohio River valley that a final, decisive war broke out.

Conflict over forts. In 1752 the French governor of Canada, the Marquis Duquesne de Menneville, ordered the construction of a new

chain of forts running from Lake Erie south to the Ohio River. Lt. Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, along with many other

people in the British colonies, was alarmed by this action people in the British colonies, was alarmed by this action. He sent a planter and surveyor named George Washington to warn them that they

were trespassing on Virginia property. In November 1753 Washington set out with a party of six to find the French commander.

Duquesne rejected Dinwiddie’s message with disgust when Washington finally found him.

Fort Duquesne. Dinwiddie decided to send another group of Virginians to build a British fort where the Monongahela and Allegheny

Rivers join to form the Ohio River in early 1754 Rivers join to form the Ohio River in early 1754. He then ordered Washington who he had made a Lt. Colonel in the

Virginia militia to protect the incomplete fort from French attack Virginia militia to protect the incomplete fort from French attack. A militia is a group of citizens organized for military service.

Before Washington reached the fort, the French attacked and captured the fort naming it Fort Duquesne.

Washington continued on towards the fort and won a victory over a small French force. Washington was forced to set up a defensive post

named Fort Necessity when he was attacked by the main French force based at Ft. Duquesne.

Fort Necessity, was quickly surrounded and Washington was forced to surrender after an all day battle with the French.

Washington and his men were allowed to leave but the land remained under French control.

The French and Indian War The French colonists were outnumbered 70,000 to 1.5 million Even though the British had far more settlers than the French,

they lost most of the battles in the first two years of the war they lost most of the battles in the first two years of the war. Many of the Native American tribes sided with the French because they usually did not force them to give up their lands or their way of life.

The British turned the tide of the war after William Pitt, the British Secretary of State, took over the management of the war effort.

British troops finally captured Fort Duquesne in 1758 and changed its name to Fort Pitt. The most decisive battle took place

in Quebec, Canada in 1759. The plains of Abraham was the site of this historic battle.

Both the British General Wolfe and the French commander Montcalm were killed in the fight.

In the end, the British captured the city. The conflict was not confined to North America.

Unlike the previous three wars in America between the French and the British, this time the war started on this continent and spread to Europe

In Europe the war was known as the Seven Years War. Spain entered the conflict on the side of the French in 1762.

Britain quickly captured its colonies in Cuba and the Philippine Islands. The British won the war in 1763.

They were granted France’s territory in Canada and most of its claims in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. Spain turned over

Florida and the Gulf Coast of the Mississippi River to the British Florida and the Gulf Coast of the Mississippi River to the British. The British colonists were very happy. The French no longer threatened

the Ohio River Valley and Spain had been pushed back from the southern frontier.

LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THE FRENCH /INDIAN WAR

The British soldiers and sailors had done most of the fighting. The Royal Treasury paid most of the bills. This created a large debt for

England. The Royal Treasury paid most of the bills. This created a large debt for England.

All of this led eventually too anger Eventually the British did not allow the colonists to settle west of the Appalachian mountains. All of this led eventually too anger

from the colonists towards the King…