1. The Seven Years' War (1756-63) Battle for a Continent
4 years in North America-
7 years in Europe

2. Roots of War: The Ohio Valley
Conflict between French and English in Ohio Valley
Thirteen Colonies want to expand westward into fertile Ohio Valley
Main obstacle: French presence at Fort Duquesne

3. The Ohio Valley Conflict
1754: George Washington leads Virginia militia into Ohio valley, building Fort Necessity
French forces drive Washington from Ohio
1755: British General Edward Braddock sent into Ohio to defeat French
Braddock's army ambushed and killed by French and native forces

4. 1756: Declaration of War
Britain and France officially declare war on one another
French forces in North America led by Marquis de Montcalm register early victories at Oswego and Fort William Henry

5. The British Response
Early French successes lead British Secretary of State William Pitt to change strategy
Pitt 's conclusion: war will be won or lost in North America
Pitt devises plan to capture significant French fortifications in North America using British and colonial military forces

6. Seige of Louisbourg (1758)
Spring 1758: British form expedition and lay seige to French fortress of Louisbourg
Fortress surrenders in July
Too late in season to mount an expedition against New France

7. Seige of Quebec (1759)
Spring 1759: British forces enter St. Lawrence and lay seige to Quebec
Several unsuccessful attempts to capture the Citadel throughout the summer of 1759
September 13, 1759: James Wolfe undertakes daring landing up river from Quebec

8. Battle of the Plains of Abraham
French commander Montcalm decides to march out of Citadel and fight Wolfe's forces
The two armies meet on the Plains of Abraham, where the French are defeated in a brief battle
French forces retreat up river to Montreal

9. Big Stairs! Big Stairs—they were not there during the siege of Quebec

10. Montreal (1760) French forces regroup and winter at Montreal
Their only hope lies with the arrival of French reinforcements in the spring of 1760
British vessels are first to arrive, carrying soldiers that lay seige to Montreal
French forces surrender on September 8, 1760
War in North America ends

11. Treaty of Paris (1763) War in Europe last another three years
Two sides sign Treaty of Paris (1763), ending Seven Years' War
France surrenders New France to Britain
Colony of New France transformed into the British colony of Quebec