British vs. French - French & Indian War

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

  • Key Components:

    • Causes

    • Participants

    • Albany Plan of Union (1754)

    • General Edward Braddock

    • William Pitt

    • Treaty of Paris

    • Results

Events of the Seven Years' War

  • Territorial Claims (circa 1750):

    • Virginia to Pennsylvania to Ohio

    • Nova Scotia (British)

    • Hudson River to Lake Champlain (European Powers involved)

  • Notable Locations:

    • Louisbourg, Quebec, Havana, Madrid, etc.

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

  • Purpose:

    • Short Term: Secure Iroquois support

    • Long Term: Promote Colonial Unity and Common Defense

  • Key Figure: Benjamin Franklin

    • Influence across 7 of 13 Colonies

  • Concerns Addressed:

    • Defense, Westward Expansion, Indian relations, Finance

  • Ultimately rejected by Colonial Assemblies

Early Conflict

  • Key Event: Fort Duquesne (1753-1754)

    • Washington ordered to warn French

    • Result: French build Fort Duquesne; Washington attacked, leading to Fort Necessity's capture

British Strategic Shift

  • Braddock's Defeat

    • Challenges faced by General Braddock

  • William Pitt's Leadership:

    • Objective: Gain control of North America

    • Focus on Quebec and Montreal

    • Young, energetic leaders promoted as "Organizers of Victory"

Key Battles**

  • Notable engagements include:

    • Louisburg (1758)

    • Quebec (September 1759)

    • Montreal (September 1760)

Aftermath of the War

  • Treaty of Paris (1763):

    • Major territorial changes and implications for colonial powers

  • Spirit of Expansion:

    • Geographical barriers to unity diminished; significant colonial military experience gained

  • British Debt:

    • Debt of £140,000,000 and tensions about colonial contributions

Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)

  • Context: Native Americans led by Chief Pontiac

    • Raids on British forts and settlements

    • Led to British military response and reassertion of control

Proclamation of 1763

  • Details: British prohibition on colonial settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains

  • Colonial Reaction: Discontent and resistance to British intentions.