1. The French and Indian War

2. Seven Years War or French and Indian War?
England and French major powers for leadership of Europe
Competition surrounding control of the seas and territory in India and North America
Both wanted the resources and power that came from expanding their empire
Series of conflicts that started in North America spread
Called Seven Years War in Europe but French and Indian War in the Americas

3. Causes of the War Overlapping territories in the Americas
Competition over Ohio Valley – high levels of resources and furs
Differences in colonial beliefs and mentalities

4. Differences in Colonial Strategies
British
French
Started on Eastern coast (Massachusetts – Jamestown, Plymouth, etc)
Developed towns and villages (forts)
Focused on individual settlement of colonies and collecting resources
Limited positive relations with Natives (some areas better than others)
Started near Saint Lawrence River (in now Quebec, Canada);
Spread further into heart of territory as focus was on fur trade and conversion of Natives to Christianity
Limited interest in creating towns
Better relations with Native tribes
Led to military alliances in war

5. Immediate Cause of War
Dispute over Ohio Valley (other side of Appalachian Mountains)
France – claimed as New France
Britain – claimed as part of Virginia
British colonists moving in angered France; France started building fortified forts
Virginia governor sent mission (led by G. Washington) warning France that they must leave “English territory”; France rejected it

6. Outbreak of War Building of forts by both sides in Ohio Valley
Fort Necessity – English; Fort Duquesne - French
Small battles start, winning on both sides
France pushes out Virginian colonists – Official Start of War
Albany Plan of Union – Albany, New York, 1754
Push to unite against the French for purposes of defense and take over the Iroquois Confederacy
Rejected by England – felt make colonies too strong; made colonists start thinking of a union

7. Early Years of War
Battle of Fort Duquesne – won by English (Edward Braddock)
Got cocky after win and fell into a trap – mortally wounded and troupes defeated
Washington (soldier in the force) took charge and led remainder back to safety
France pushed advantage to success, taking multiple forts and territory in upstate New York and Nova Scotia, as well as along some of Great Lakes

8. Turning the Tide William Pitt – becomes PM of England (1757)
Sends more troops and supplies to colonies; gained greater support from colonists
English troops serge and start gaining lots of territory
Battle at Saint Lawrence River – most fortified French fort
4 month siege (led by James Wolfe); English troops and Iroquois
broken by climbing cliff face (thought impossible) at night, taking French by surprise
Battle on Plains of Abraham – both Wolfe and French commander killed
English went on to capture Montreal – France’s power in N.A broken

9. Peace
War also fought in other areas of the world (India, Central America) and against Spanish territory in Americas
Treaty of Paris
France gave up Canada and land East of Mississippi (not New Orleans which went to Spain, ally of France)
Spain gave up Florida (got Cuba instead); got French lands West of Mississippi
France kept several islands in Caribbean and Newfoundland (Eastern Canada)
Native Americans - ???????