The French and Indian War

Class Activity North America 1754 Use the map provided to identify the extent of the Spanish, French, & British colonial control in North America by 1750

Key Preview Questions North America 1754 Which nation on the map had the “best” colonies? Why? Based on the map, what problems might arise among the European powers? How should these nations work out their differences?

By 1750, Britain & France had become serious rivals because: Both nations used mercantilism to expand their colonial claims in order to increase their wealth Both nations used mercantilism to expand their colonial claims in order to increase their wealth Britain & France went to war 3 times in Europe from 1690-1750 These wars in Europe meant that their colonists would fight too

During the 1700s, both the British & French colonies were growing Land disputes along the Ohio River Valley led to the French & Indian War

The growth of the British & French colonies impacted Indians too: The French increased their alliances with Native Americans along the Ohio River Valley The spread of British colonists into the backcountry & across the Appalachian Mountains led to numerous Indian conflicts

Indians grew increasingly concerned about British colonists filling into the backcountry New settlement

The plan was not approved In 1754, colonists from across the British colonies met at the Albany Congress to discuss the common problem of Indian attacks Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union for a coordinated colonial army The plan was not approved The colonists lacked the unity to solve a common problem

Ben Franklin’s “Albany Plan of Union” America’s 1st political cartoon

Turning Point: 1754 In 1754, VA governor sent 22 year old George Washington to protect an Ohio Company claim Washington’s troops were forced to retreat from Fort Duquesne; This clash proved to be the beginning of the French & Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) Britain & the North American colonists France, their colonists, & Indian allies vs

The war started in North America (1754-1763), but became part of a larger, “world” war called the Seven Years War (1756-1763) due to competition among empires

Battle Scene of the French and Indian War

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) Britain was losing during the early years of the war The colonists saw this war as another European conflict & did not help fight or raise taxes as much as England expected But, in 1757, British Prime Minister William Pitt issued a “blank check” to win the war Pitt understood that winning this war meant the future of British mercantilism

The war officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763 France lost Canada, most of its empire in India, & claims to lands east of the Mississippi River Spain got all lands west of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, but lost Florida to England England gained all French lands in Canada & exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade North America 1754 North America 1763

Closure Activity North America 1763 Use the map provided to identify the areas under Spanish, French, & British control after the French & Indian War (by 1763)

Key Review Questions North America 1763 How did winning the French & Indian War set up Britain as the dominant economic power in the world? What effect might this victory have on British mercantilism? How might this war impact the British colonists? Indians?

Essential Question: How was the end of the French & Indian War in 1763 a “turning point” in American history? Warm-Up Question: The French & Indian War was a “turning point” in American history. What effect might this victory have on British mercantilism? How might this war impact the British colonists? Indians?

How was 1763 a “turning point” in American history How was 1763 a “turning point” in American history? Situational Role Play Activity

Situation #1 According to the Treaty of Paris in 1763 that ended the French & Indian War, the French have no more colonies in North America (except Haiti in the Caribbean)

Situation #2 After the end of the French & Indian War, Parliament decided to leave the British army in North America

Situation #3 The costs of winning the French & Indian War left the British Empire in severe debt that it now must pay off: British national debt, 1755: £74.6 million British national debt, 1764: £129.6 million

Colonists learned new guerilla fighting tactics from the Indians North America 1763 The French & Indian War changed the relationship between Britain & the American colonists Colonists were excited about the possibility of new land in the west now that the French were gone Colonists learned new guerilla fighting tactics from the Indians

William Pitt’s “blank check” led to huge war debts Parliament expected colonists to help pay off these debts More decisions would now be made by British Parliament

The expensive British army was not removed from America Other problems strained the relationship between Britain & the colonists after the war: North America 1763 The expensive British army was not removed from America The Ottawa Indians, led by Chief Pontiac, attacked frontier settlers who flooded into the Ohio Valley

Britain had to spend more money defending colonists in the frontier Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763 Britain had to spend more money defending colonists in the frontier

Proclamation of 1763 After Pontiac’s Rebellion, the British Parliament created the Proclamation Line of 1763 Forbade colonists from moving across the Appalachian Mountains Colonists were mad because this limited their ability to gain new land Colonists were mad that this decision was made by Parliament & not in colonial assemblies

“Parliament has the authority to rule” The French & Indian War brought an end to salutary neglect & began parliamentary sovereignty English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority over ALL laws & taxes “Parliament has the authority to rule” The British began governing their colonies more strictly

The end of salutary neglect New taxes & laws were passed without asking colonial assemblies As Britain assumed more control, the colonists tried to hang onto the power of their colonial assemblies This shift would prove to be the beginning of the long road towards colonial independence

Closure Activity In groups, summarize the following: As a result of the French & Indian War, how have things changed? Why was the war such a “turning point”? From the British gov’t perspective, why are these changes necessary? From the colonial perspective, why are these changes difficult to handle?

How was 1763 a “turning point” in the British-colonial relationship?

Perceptions of the War Colonial views: Colonies could be very strong when they worked together Newly gained frontier presented opportunities for wealth & land Colonists learned how to fight English views: Americans were slow to organize & balked at helping raise money even to protect their own lands

British-American Tensions Colonials British Fighting Methods Indian-style guerilla attacks Marching in formation Military Organization Militias led by captains British officers in charge of colonials Finances Resistant to rising taxes Colonists should help pay for their own defense

Effects of the War on Britain? The war increased England’s colonial empire in North America But, the Pitt’s “blank check” greatly enlarged England’s debt Britain’s contempt for the colonials created bitter feelings As a result, English leaders felt that a major reorganization of its American empire was necessary!

Effects of the War on Americans? The 1760s were an affluent & optimistic “post-war” period: The French & Indian War united the colonists against a common enemy for the 1st time Most colonists considered themselves proud members of England’s empire with little (if any) thought of independence

Eroding Bonds of the Empire

Parliamentary Sovereignty In 1760, George III became king & began a new colonial attitude: Parliamentary Sovereignty English officials assumed that Parliament must have ultimate authority over ALL laws & taxes The colonists tried to reserve the colonial authority for their own legislatures Suspicions in colonies & England that George wished to enlarge his powers (appt of chief minister Bute & others) Bute was appointed Chief Minister of England because he got along with George, no other reason. Parliament was furious. Eventually Bute resigned & George was fickle in his appointments—often changing chief ministers leaving England with no clear plan for gov’t. Left England in precarious state & colonies largely ignored during this time. 3

“No Taxation Without Representation” The colonists assumed that their assemblies were quasi-equal to Parliament because they had no Parliamentary representatives British officials countered with “virtual representation” argument The colonists insisted that only their colonial assemblies could tax Americans Parliament represents ALL British citizens no matter where they live 4

Two Theories of Representation What was the extent of Parliament’s authority over the colonies? How could the colonies accept the decisions of Parliament when they did not have representation in that governmental body? Absolute? OR Limited?

Eroding the Bonds of Empire After the Seven Years War, everyone expected George to remove British army from America (French were no longer a threat) But…this large, expensive army was not removed British citizens were not happy because they had to pay for it Colonists doubted the army’s ability to defend against Indians 6

Pontiac’s War Backcountry natives banded together to repel white frontier settlers during Pontiac’s War: Indian successes exposed the British army’s weakness Attacks revealed desperation of Native Americans after the withdrawal of their French allies Colonials took matters into their own hands (Paxton Boys in PA) English colonists flooded across the Appalachian Mountains: “There’s all this land & no French!!” (Senecas, Ottowas, Miamis, Creeks, Cherokees)

Pontiac’s Rebellion, 1763 Fort Detroit Chief Pontiac led the Ottawa & other tribes against colonists due to: The flood of colonists into Ohio Country British “gifts” of smallpox-infected blankets from Fort Pitt

Retaliatory attacks by frontier colonists (like the Paxton Boys in Pennsylvania) were common

The Proclamation of 1763 In response to Pontiac’s War, the British government established the Proclamation Line of 1763: This law forbade colonists from settling across the Appalachian Mountains (for their own protection) Americans viewed the line as an obstruction to their “legitimate economic development”

North America in 1763

“Virtuous” citizens must fight tyranny New Political Ideas All gov’ts are susceptible to corruption, tyranny, & intrusion upon citizens’ liberty The introduction of Parliamentary sovereignty contradicted England’s original policy of salutary neglect The influx of new political ideas of the European Enlightenment began to impact colonial thought (especially those of John Locke) While no colonists were thinking of independence by 1763, many became committed to “natural rights” & opposed to “tyranny” “Virtuous” citizens must fight tyranny 5

Conclusions: Rule Britannia?

Rule Britannia? Despite the mounting tensions between the English government & American colonists by 1763, most Americans were loyal “brothers” to England due of: a shared British culture dependence upon British consumer goods shared nationalism after British military victories against France

Crash Course #5