French and Indian War

The French and the English had been fighting each other in Europe for many years and this carried over to the colonies.

Life in the colonies was different if you were French or English! French Interior of the continent Temporary settlements and trading posts Hunted, fished, and traded 90,000 settlers English Along the coast Permanent settlements and farms Farming, communities, towns 1.5 million settlers

Battles between the French and the British Colonists King William’s War – –French attacked English villages –English invaded parts of Canada –Ended with all land being returned to original owners Queen Anne’s War – –French attacked English villages –English invaded parts of Canada –English attacked Spanish held Florida (Fr. Ally) –Ended with England gaining some Canadian lands

King George’s War – –French attacked English villages –English invaded parts of Canada –Ended with France gaining some New England territory

French Build Forts The French built forts along the Ohio River from Lake Erie through PA to keep English trappers from crossing the Appalachian Mts.

English get alarmed!!! English want access to the land too! English soldiers are sent out to build forts along the same area –Area that they claimed as part of VA –Led by George Washington

Washington starts the War! A message was sent to the French commander to stop construction, but it was ignored Washington marched on Fort Duquesne without waiting for reinforcements killing a French military leader French surround Washington’s base at Fort Necessity –English retreat

War French –Won most of the battles due to expertise in forest warfare –Had support of the Native Americans because they did not want to change their lifestyle British –William Pitt took command and changed the tactics

Albany Plan – Plan for the colonies to unite on behalf of the British – Rejected by King

International Event Seven Years War Spain aided the French France gives Spain Louisiana (All land west of Mississippi River)

Impact of the War British redrew map of the world –Outside of North America they returned the land they gained –French lost Canada Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys –Spain Lost British Florida Gulf coast to the Mississippi

French and Indian War and Impact on American Colonies The west was opened for American expansion New Issues were created –Britain borrowed money to pay for war –Larger empire cost more to defend –How was the new and larger empire to be governed –Native Americans

Proclamation of 1673 Bans British settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains

What predictions can you make as to what will come next and why do you think so?