1. 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
These wars in Europe meant that their colonists would fight too

2. The growth of the British & French colonies impacted Indians:
French alliances grew stronger
British colonists had many conflicts with natives
1754  Albany Congress  British settlers meet to discuss the common problem of Indian attacks
Ben Franklin suggested the Albany Plan of Union (coordinated colonial army) but plan was not approved

3. In 1754, VA governor sent 22 year old George Washington to protect British land claims in the west
Washington’s troops were forced to retreat from Fort Duquesne; This clash proved to be the beginning of the French & Indian War

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

5. 1757, British Prime Minister William Pitt issued a “blank check” to win the war
War started in N. America ( ), but became part of a larger “world” war (Seven Years War)

6. 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
England gained all French lands in Canada & exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade
North America 1754
North America 1763

7. North America 1763
The French & Indian War changed the relationship between Britain & the American colonists
Colonists excited about the possibility of new land in the west
Colonists learned new guerilla fighting tactics from the Indians
The “blank check” led to huge war debts that Parliament expected colonist to help pay

8. North America 1763
The British began governing more strictly (no more salutary neglect):
The expensive British army was not removed
Parliament closed the west due to continued problems with Native Americans.
Pontiac’s Rebellion led to the Proclamation Line of 1763
New taxes & laws were passed by Parliament (not colonial assemblies
Britain wants more control but colonists want to hang onto their power…this struggle is the beginning of the road to colonial independence

9. The Road to Revolution (1763-1776)
The end of the French & Indian War (1763), marked the start of the road towards the American Revolution
Copy the flow chart from the board in your notes

10. By December 1775, the British and American colonists were fighting an “informal revolutionary war”…but:
Colonial leaders had not yet declared independence
In 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense convinced many neutral colonists to support independence from Britain

11. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author
By July 1776, enough Americans were “patriots” that members of the Second Continental Congress formed a 5-man committee to draft a Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the principal author
All men are born with “natural rights” of life, liberty, & property
Citizens can break their social contract with their gov’t when their gov’t becomes tyrannical
It was based on the “enlightened” ideas of John Locke & explained why the colonists were rebelling

12. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the American Revolution
The treaty gave America:
Full independence
All territory east of Mississippi River, between Canada & Florida
The removal of the British army from U.S. claims in America

13. North America 1754
North America 1763
North America 1783