French and Indian War

French and Indian War

Pre-cursor to the Revolutionary War1754-1763

Pre-cursor to the Revolutionary War1754-1763

Setting the stage• England, France, Spain, Netherlands - compete

for land (French controlled area from St. Lawrence River west to Great Lakes, south to Gulf of Mexico - built forts blocking English colonies from moving west)

• 1740s - English settlers move inland across Appalachian Mtns into the Ohio Valley for furs

Opposing Sides

French• Most were trappers & traders

• Did not destroy Native American grounds bc they did not farm

• Married NA women, adopted their ways

• Strong alliance w/ many NA’s including the Hurons & Algonquins

English• Settlers were farmers who cleared NA land

• Rough history w/ NA groups

• Convinced the Iroquois to join them bc Iroquois were enemies of Hurons & Algonquins

French & many Native Americans

VSBritish, colonists,

& Iroquois

Albany Plan of Union• create 1 government for the 13 colonies.

• Grand council of representatives from each of the colonies

• Council would decide when to inc taxes, make laws, defend colonies

• NEVER APPROVED bc colonies feared losing power

Ending the War• British & colonies defeat the French

• Ended the war w/ the Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Paris (1763)• End of French power in North America

• Britain gained Canada & all French land east of Mississippi River (not New Orleans)

• Spain was forced to give up Florida, but gained land west of Mississippi & New Orleans

Fighting doesn’t end• Many clashes w/ NA bc colonists moved into the

Ohio Valley & cleared land for farms --Pontiac’s War (ended bc of Treaty)

Proclamation of 1763

• Drew an imaginary line along the Appalachian Mountains

• Colonists were forbidden to move west of the line, and if there already, forced to move

• Created to protect Indians in western land

• 10,000 British troops needed to enforce the law

• Angered many colonists who had claimed land already and now had to pay for troops -- many ignored it

French and Indian War...

• created huge debts for the British

• British will force the colonies to help pay for the war through new taxes

• Taxation without representation