History Exam Notes

Beaver Wars (1600s)

• The Iroquois attempted to control the fur trade as the French began dominating the Great Lakes region.
• This conflict exemplifies how Europeans exploited Native American groups to fight against each other.

French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) (1750-1775)

• Causes:
  • France established a network of forts in the Ohio River Valley to impede the westward expansion of British colonies.
• Effects:
  • The Albany Plan, an early attempt at colonial unification, failed.
  • The British emerged victorious, diminishing French influence in North America.
  • Conflicts escalated between colonists and Native Americans.
  • Native American tribes formed alliances to resist colonial encroachment.
  • The British implemented an Imperial reform, which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

American Revolution (1775-1783)

• Causes:
  • Influence of Enlightenment ideals (John Locke, Adam Smith, and Thomas Paine).
  • American discontent with British Imperial reforms, which were enacted to cover the expenses incurred during the French and Indian War.
• The War:
  • Following the implementation of the Coercive Acts by the British, the colonists convened the 1st Continental Congress.
  • The British declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion and dispatched troops to Lexington and Concord in 1775, followed by Bunker/Breed's Hill in 1775.
  • The colonists achieved victory due to:
    • Effective military and political leadership.
    • French assistance.
    • Ideological commitment, including the concept of Republican Motherhood.
    • Familiarity with the land.
• Effects:
  • The Treaty of Paris formally concluded the war.
    • Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation.
    • The Mississippi River was established as the western boundary of the U.S.
    • The U.S. gained fishing rights off the coast of Canada.
    • The U.S. committed to repaying debts owed to British merchants.

War of 1812

• Causes:
  • Impressment of American sailors by the British.
  • British interference in American trade.
  • British support for Native American tribes in conflicts against American colonists, violating Jay's Treaty.
  • The influence of War Hawks, such as John C. Calhoun.
• Opposition:
  • New England merchants opposed the war due to their trade relations and religious ties with Britain.
• The War:
  • Washington D.C. was attacked and the Capitol Building and President's home were burned.
  • At Baltimore, Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the battle.
  • The Battle of New Orleans was fought two weeks after the war had officially ended due to slow communication.