1. The Seven Years War
The French & Indian War

2. Participants in the Seven Years War
Great Britain, Prussia, Portugal & allies (Blue)
France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Sweden & allies (Green)

3. The Seven Years War Prussia & Great Britain vs France & Austria
1754 &
extension of the War of Austrian Succession
Britain’s superior fleet and Prussia’s excellent army combined to defeat France & Austria
Russia, Sweden, Saxony, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands were also involved

4. Causes of the French & Indian War
control of land and power in Europe
control of North America’s resources
the Ohio River Valley for fur
the Grand Banks fishery
religion; protestant vs Catholic

5. Early Events
as early as the 1670s the French had laid claim to Louisiana and the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys
by the 1740s the “Americans” had found gaps in the Appalachian mountains and were trading in the area
starting in 1747 the French began sending expeditions into the Ohio Valley to secure Native trading by force if necessary
they buried lead plates with the French coat of arms on them to show ownership

7. Escalation
the FNP resisted the French and continued to trade with the British
1753 Major George Washington was sent into the Ohio Valley with a message that the French should withdraw
they do not

8. The War May 15 1756 Britain declares war the world’s first world war
France and Great Britain battle for who would be the dominate colonial power
Caribbean sugar, North American fur & fish and Indian spices are all part of the war

9. The Fall of New France
with Prussia’s army fighting the French in Europe the British Navy and Army can concentrate on the colonies
1758 Louisbourg falls
the British push into the Ohio River Valley and up the Lake Champlain corridor
finally in 1759 Quebec falls the war in the New World is over

13. Pontiac’s War
a loose confederation of First Nations groups vs the British
led by Pontiac, an Ottawa
First Nations who fought with the British by were unhappy with their actions after the war attacked
often called a defeat for First Nations, it was more a stalemate
changed the course of European/First Nations relations in our history
helped contribute to the American Revolution as colonists were unhappy with some of the concessions given to the First Nations at the end of the war