7 Years War and Its Impact

7 Years War - The Lead Up in Ohio Country

Land disputes were rampant among British, French, and Native Americans.
1754: General George Washington was sent to assert British interests in the Ohio Country with Iroquois allies.
The French had established Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio River. They attempted to warn Washington to retreat.
Before the French delivered their message, they were ambushed; some reached Washington to explain their peaceful intent.
Miscommunication led to Washington’s Iroquois allies attacking the French, killing their warning party.
Washington and his men retreated and hastily built Fort Necessity, which was besieged a month later. Washington was forced to surrender.
This event marked the beginning of the Seven Years' War.

Following Washington's defeat, Britain aimed for control of the Ohio Country, launching a second attempt.
General Braddock led two troops into Ohio in 1755 but ignored Native alliances.
Braddock was ambushed by the French and their allies; he was shot, and his remaining troops fled.
The French victory solidified their dominance in the Ohio Country.
Great Britain and France formally declared war in 1756.
John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, took command for the British but was unpopular due to high demands on soldiers and resources.
The French appointed Louis Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm, who captured key British forts, threatening New England.
The war began to spread to Europe, where French forces threatened British holdings, putting Britain in a precarious position.

William Pitt became British Prime Minister, advocating for a global attack on France to drive them out of North America.
He pledged support to Prussian allies in Europe while focusing on North America.
Pitt gained colonial support by treating them as equals, respecting their officers, and ensuring they would not bear war expenses.
He recognized the importance of Native allies and engaged in diplomacy with Native leaders.
By 1757, the British Navy cut off French supplies via the St. Lawrence River, drastically weakening French-Native alliances due to loss of trade.

Colonial support surged as the tide of war shifted in favor of the British.
July 1758: The British gained control of the St. Lawrence River; the French fortress of Louisbourg fell, isolating the French.
In 1759, General James Wolfe captured Quebec after a fierce battle at the Plains of Abraham, where both commanders were killed, leading to significant British casualties.
By 1760, the French surrendered Montreal.
1762: Spain joined the war on the French side but lost Havana to the British.
February 1763: The Treaty of Paris signaled the end of French presence in North America, with Britain acquiring territory east of the Mississippi River, Spanish Florida, and several Caribbean Islands.
Spain retained land west of the Mississippi and access to New Orleans via the Treaty of San Ildefonso.

Colonists anticipated reduced taxes and open access to the Ohio Valley.
In contrast, imperial officials aimed for a centralized British empire, leading to increased oversight and taxation in the colonies.
A standing army was established in the colonies to maintain order and enforce new policies.

General Jeffery Amherst believed that with the French gone, relations with Native Americans could be disregarded, leading to unrest among Natives.
Natives, led by Pontiac, began to organize against British forts.
Pontiac embraced a spiritual message from Neolin, calling for a return to traditional practices and unity among tribes.
As violence erupted, Amherst authorized military actions against Native villages and took extreme measures against Native populations, including using smallpox-infected blankets during negotiations.
The Paxton Boys, a group of colonists, sought to eliminate Native peoples, resulting in massacres of peaceful Native communities.
In response to escalating violence, Amherst's leadership was challenged; the Proclamation of 1763 sought to restore respectful relations with Natives and halt westward colonial expansion, causing frustration among colonists.
By 1764, violence had somewhat subsided, but tensions remained high.