England and France at War: Both Claim Ohio River Valley May 28, 1754 England and France at War: Both Claim Ohio River Valley As this newspaper headline shows, by the 1750s, England and France were ready to fight over territory in North America.

In the early days of settlement, many different European countries competed to colonize North America.

By the late 17th century, three countries had come out on top: England, France and Spain. France based her claims in North America on France’s exploration of inland waterways. England based its claims in North America on expansion inland from the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson Bay. Question: Can you point out areas where French and English settlers may begin to fight over territory?

The war between France and the British will take place in the Ohio River Valley. Questions: Why do you think the French fur trappers and traders were interested in controlling the rivers? HINT: Remember there weren’t many roads back then.

Can you see the collision about to happen? French Forts Protect Access to Ohio and Mississippi Rivers British Settlements Moving Westward Can you see the collision about to happen?

As you know the showdown between the English and the French happened in the Ohio River Valley. The French wanted to protect the money they earned there from fur trapping. They also wanted to maintain control of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers since those were the only connection between their northern and southern settlements. English settlers wanted to move west to find fertile land for farming and also to get in on the fur trapping in the region. Question: If the English win the war, what might happen to the French settlers in southern North America?

British in North America French in North America Native Americans had lived, farmed and hunted in the Ohio River Valley for many years. It was very fertile land. They didn’t want to lose it to either the French of the English. In fact, one Indian told an English trader, “You and the French are like two edges of a pair of shears. And we are the cloth which is to be cut to pieces between them.” But the conflict between France and England was too serious to ignore. Most Indians decided that the only way to protect their way of life was to choose sides. British in North America French in North America Most were farmers who usually ignored Indian rights by chopping down trees and clearing Indian hunting land for farming. Most were trappers and traders who usually didn’t destroy Indian hunting grounds by clearing forests for farms. Very few English settlers married Indian women or adopted Indian ways of life. Many French trappers married Indian women and adopted their ways. Questions: If you were an Indian, which side would you choose in the war? What might happen to you if you picked the losing side?

In the end, most Indians in the Ohio River Valley sided with the French. The two biggest Indian allies of the French were the Huron and Algonquin Indians. The British made an alliance with Iroquois Indians. Can you guess why the Iroquois sided with the British? They were old and bitter enemies of the Huron and Algonquians.

WAIT A MINUTE! The name of this war is confusing! The English and the Iroquois Indians were fighting the French and the Algonquin and Huron Indian tribes. The British (and some Indians) were fighting the French (and lots of Indians). So the British began calling the conflict the French and Indian War since that is who they were fighting. Weird name, huh?

Key Battles of the French and Indian War

You’d think the British and the colonists would be happy with each other, right? They had worked together to defeat the French. Ben Franklin even tried to get the colonies to form one giant unified territory with his Albany Plan of Union. Other colonies turned him down though. They were willing to work together during the war with France, but they loved their independence too much to give it up. Soon though, the colonies would be in conflict again. This time with the mother country, Britain.