Chapter 6
New France and France vs Britain
France: no colonization before the 1600’sLots of internal problems (religious civil war) until 1600
1608 Samuel de Champlain founded QuebecFirst settlement in New France
1682 Robert de La Salle explored the Mississippi—Louisiana1718 New Orleans founded
2 parts, Canada and LouisianaCanada: Quebec, Montreal, Louisbourg (all of modern-
day Canada plus the Great Lakes region of the US)Louisiana: New Orleans (all of modern-day central and a
lot of the western US)
New France 1608-1763
Canada: trade with Indians (Beaver)Louisiana: trade with Indians and grow wheat for
the French CaribbeanFriendly relations with Native Americans
Jesuits—tried to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism (didn’t force them to)
Indians incorporated into French society (somewhat) generally not as exploited as in Spanish possessions
Sparsely populated: only 60,000 French settlers in mid 1700’s
Autocratic: no representative government, no trial by jury, no religious toleration
Life in New France
4 colonial wars fought during this timeAll pitted France (and Indian allies [Huron])
and sometimes the Spanish vs the British (and Indian allies [Iroquois])King William’s War 1689-1697Queen Anne’s War 1702-1713King George’s War 1744-1748French and Indian War 1754-1763
France vs. Britain 1689-1763
Colonists and Indians vs colonists and IndiansVery little/no involvement from EuropeSideshow of larger European conflicts
British gained possession of the Hudson Bay, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland from the FrenchTreaty of Utrecht 1713
King William’s and Queen Anne’s Wars
First conflict to have significant European involvement in North America (money, soldiers)
Colonists captured the French fortress-city of Louisbourg, but it was returned to France following the peace treaty (exchanged for British losses in India)
Effects on the colonists???Effects on sense of American identity???
King George’s War 1744-1748
First time a war started in North America and spread to Europe
Involved large amounts of European resources (money, soldiers)
Fought over control of the Ohio River Valley (modern pay western PA, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan)
Began when George Washington encountered French soldiers near Fort Duquesne (modern-day Pittsburgh)
British and Iroquois vs French (and Spanish) and Huron
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Albany Conference and the Albany Plan: 17547 of the 13 colonies met in Albany to convince the
Iroquois to join the warAgreed to one commander of colonial forces (British
General)Benjamin Franklin proposed a plan (Albany Plan) to
unite the colonies together under British rule (early version of the United States but still British)—never adopted
First step of the colonies working togetherBraddock’s Defeat: 1755
Damaged the reputation of the British military in the colonies
Gave rise to the belief that colonies could survive/win without the Britsh
Significant Aspects of French and Indian War
Franklin’s Political Cartoon: 1754
Went badly for the British/Americans at firstBraddock’s Defeat 1755French/Indian attacks on the frontier settlements
1755-1757British/Americans defeated in upstate New York
1757 New British Prime Minister (William Pitt) new strategyPay the Americans to fight (cheaper than sending
all the soldiers over from Britain)Don’t attack the French everywhere, just attack
them in CanadaBritish successful war ends in 1763:
British/Americans Win
The French and Indian War
Ended the warEffects:
French gave all of Canada and Eastern half of Louisiana to the British
Spanish gave Florida to the BritishTo repay the Spanish for the loss of Florida the
French gave the western half of Louisiana to the Spanish
No more French in North America
Peace of Paris: 1763
Wars cost money, Britain had a large amount of debtHow do governments pay off their debts?
Indians no longer could play the French and British against each other—didn’t like this situationPontiac’s Rebellion 1763Indian rebellion defeated by British butBritish stationed soldiers to protect against
further Indian attacks—cost moneyBritish prohibited European settlement west of
the Appalachian mountains—Proclamation of 1763
Significance of French and Indian War: Aftermath