The French and Indian War

Competing European Claims In the middle of the 18th century, France and England had competing claims for land in North America. The French held trapping and trade routes in the Ohio Valley. The English colonies were encroaching on French territory are the population grew. They also competed over trade issues with the Native Americans in the disputed region.

The Battle of Fort Necessity The French set up forts along to protect their fur trading interests. Some of these forts conflicted with English claims. Virginia Governor Dinwiddie dispatched a young George Washington in 1753 to deliver a protest to the French. This protest was ignored. The British sent a party to construct a fort on the site of modern Pittsburgh. Young George Washington

The Battle of Fort Necessity A recreation of Ft. Necessity. The force was driven off by the French who, in turn, constructed Fort Duquesne on the site. The next year, Dinwiddie turned to Washington to expel the French from the site. Washington was quickly overwhelmed by superior French and Native American numbers. Washington had to retreat to the hastily constructed Fort Necessity, which he had to surrender shortly there after. This incident was a prelude to the French and Indian War.

Albany Plan of Union The Albany Plan of Union, proposed by Benjamin Franklin and Massachusetts governor Thomas Hutchinson, called for colonial unity in the face of the coming war with France.

The Grand Council would: The Albany Plan of Union called for a Grand Council with representatives from each colony. The Grand Council would: - make laws - raise taxes - defend the colonies None of the colonies approved the plan out of fear of losing power. * The Albany Plan of Union set an example that would later be followed by such gatherings as the First and Second Continental Congress.

From the Albany Plan of Union (1754) From the Constitution (1787) 9. That the assent of the President-General be requisite to all acts of the Grand Council, and that it be his office and duty to cause them to be carried into execution. 10. That the President-General, with the advice of the Grand Council, hold or direct all Indian treaties… and make peace or declare war with Indian nations. 11. That they make such laws as they judge necessary for regulating all Indian trade. … 15. That they raise and pay soldiers and build forts for the defence of any of the Colonies… 16. That for these purposes they have power to make laws, and lay and levy such general duties, imposts, or taxes… “[the President]…he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed…” “[the President]…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur…” “[Congress will] regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes…” “[Congress will] raise and support Armies…To provide and maintain a Navy…” “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises…”

French and Indian War (1754 – 1763) Causes: Britain began to compete with France over the fur trade in the Ohio Valley.

French and Indian War: Alliances

French and Indian War: Alliances Alliance - a formal agreement by two or more nations to act together in a cause • France, Spain (1762), Algonquins, and Hurons • Great Britain and the Iroquois versus

Braddock’s Defeat In July 1755, the British sent a force from Virginia to attack Fort Duquesne. The heavy force was defeated by the smaller French force and their Native American allies. Both the British commander, Braddock, and the French commander Beaujeu, were killed. 23 year old George Washington won accolades for rallying the defeated British and preventing the battle from turning into a rout. The first two years of fighting were characterized by humiliating defeats for the British.

The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West, 1770

French Defeat: Treaty of Easton The Treaty of Easton, signed in 1758, essentially sealed France’s fate. In the treaty, the British promised the Six Iroquois Nations to stop settlements west of the Alleghenies in exchange for their neutrality in the war. This caused the French to abandon Fort Duquesne and, by 1760, Detroit and Montreal, the last two French strongholds in North America, had fallen.

Prior to the French and Indian War After the French and Indian War

French and Indian War: Effects The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763, ending the war. The Treaty of Paris • Britain gained Canada and all of the French land east of the Mississippi River. • Spain gained all of the French land west of the Mississippi River. • Spain gave up Florida to Britain.

Pontiac's Rebellion Native Americans quickly grew upset with the British. The British were cultural insensitive, traded unfairly, and continued to settle on Native American lands. These acts lead to a rebellion by Pontiac, a Native American leader who united Indians against the British The uprising lasted from 1763 to 1766. Massacres and atrocities occurred on both sides— most notably, British General Jeffrey Amherst gave the Native Americans blankets infested with smallpox.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 Violent incidents such as Pontiac's Rebellion prompted the English crown to attempt to mandate an end to encroachments on territory promised to the Indians. Settlers were not to establish themselves west of the “Proclamation Line.” The effort was unsuccessful and is viewed by many to be a leading cause of the Revolutionary War.