The duel for North America chapter 6

European Powers and Wars

• Spanish, French, and British were the key European powers vying for land and dominance in North America.

• Major conflicts included:

  • King William's War (1689-1697) - also known as the War of the League of Augsburg.

  • Queen Anne's War (1702-1711) - also referred to as the War of the Spanish Succession.

  • King George's War (1744-1748) - known as the War of the Austrian Succession.

• The British emerged victorious in these conflicts, resulting in territorial losses for the French.

George Washington and Early Conflicts

• George Washington was dispatched to Oregon County as a lieutenant.

• Encountered French troops en route, leading to the death of the French leader.

• French reinforcements arrived; Washington surrendered after a ten-hour siege.

• British forces in Nova Scotia expelled the French, causing them to scatter as far south as Louisiana.

• French-speaking descendants of Arcadians became known as Cajuns, numbering about one million.

The French and Indian War

• Marked as the fourth struggle in the colonies, which led to the onset of the Seven Years' War.

• King Frederick of Germany managed to repel larger French, Austrian, and Russian forces despite being outnumbered three to one.

• Frederick noted that America's conquest was occurring in Germany, encouraging colonial participation in the war for compensation.

Benjamin Franklin's Cartoon and Colonial Unity

• Franklin's cartoon aimed to unify the colonies against France, promoting cooperation for a common defense.

• A meeting took place, attended by seven of the thirteen colonies, to maintain Iroquois loyalty to the British amid escalating conflict.

William Pitt and British Expansion

• William Pitt, known as the Great Communer, emerged as a pivotal British leader.

• He concentrated efforts on taking Quebec and Montreal with a new generation of leaders.

• Loss of control by the French over Quebec allowed English territorial expansion.

• The Paris Peace Agreement of 1763 marked the end of significant French power in North America, reducing the need for British military protection.

Aftermath of the French and Indian War

• Colonists gained military experience from the conflict, bolstering their confidence against the English.

• British authorities raised taxes on several goods, fueling colonial resentment.

• Pontiac's Uprising in 1763 involved multiple tribes with French support attempting to expel British forces from Ohio County.

• The uprising led to a siege of Detroit and the disruption of strategic British posts, resulting in around 2,000 casualties