Objective: Students will analyze the French and Indian War to determine why it began and how it led to the American Revolution using lecture notes and movie clips.

Drill: 1. Copy homework.

2. Take out notebook and a pen or pencil.

3. Write a list of things you usually fight over with your siblings or neighbors or close friends.

Homework: Add vocabulary dictionary entries for each term in set #5 – due Wednesday.

Ohio Valley Dispute

French and Indian War

In the 1750’s, settlers from Virginia and fur traders from Pennsylvania began to spread into the Ohio Valley.

At the same time, France built forts to defend its “claimed” land.

The first disputed territory was in present-day Pittsburgh, where the French built Fort Duquesne.

Beginning of the War

In 1754, George Washington was put in charge of militia troops that were sent to force the French to stop building forts.

Washington came across a small French scouting party near the main branch of the French army in Fort Duquesne.

If you were George Washington…

What would you have done when you came across a small, French diplomatic group?

First Battle: Fort Necessity

Washington attacked the peaceful scouting party and the French retaliated.

Washington built a fort in a valley that was surrounded by high ground.

The French easily defeated Washington’s 150 man party

This was the first battle of the French and Indian War

Why would the Native-Americans fight with the French?

French fur traders lived and traded with the Native-Americans. They treated the Native-Americans as equals. Many French men married Native-American

women. The French converted the Native-Americans to

Catholicism. The French did not settle the land as much as

the British and Spanish did. The British wanted to take the Native-American’s

land.

Early Success for the French and the Native-Americans In 1755, England

sent 15,000 soldiers to America.

The French and Native-Americans achieved victories due to their abilities to ambush the British troops and colonial militias.

Show ambush clip from French and Indian War- 1:07:40

British Begin to Win In 1758, William Pitt

became Britain’s Prime Minister and began an aggressive war strategy.

The number of British soldiers in America drastically increased.

Britain’s powerful navy blockaded the coast and did not allow the French to get supplies from Europe.

Show clip from Master and Commander @ 1:45:40 - 1:47:50

Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois allied with the British because their enemy, the Algonquins, were allies of the French.

This gave the British the extra troops and momentum to win the war.

They hoped this alliance would give them land and security after the war.

Battle of Quebec: 1759 British troops

climbed a cliff at night and surprised French troops in Quebec City.

This opened up the path to Montreal, which was defeated in 1760.

The fighting in North America ended in 1760, but continued in Europe until 1763.

Seven Years War in Europe

Fighting also occurred in Europe. Most of the fighting occurred in present-day

Germany.Prussia allied with England for the war in

Europe.England decided to focus on the war in

America.France decided to focus its resources on

war in Europe.

France gave England all of Canada and its territory to the east of the Mississippi River (the Ohio River Valley) as well as 4 islands in the West Indies.

Despite their new territory, England spent $4 million (close to $4 billion in present-day) on the war. This was more than 10 times what France spent. No nation had previously spent nearly this high

amount on a war.

Treaty of Paris, 1763

England’s Massive Debt

If you were the king, how would you deal with the new debt?

A: Tax citizens in England, but not the colonists

B: Sell the new Ohio Valley territory

C: Tax the American colonists

D: Forget about the debt, you are already the most powerful nation in the world

Spoiler Alert!

After the war, the colonists had “never been so proud to be British and the future of the colonies had never looked so bright”.

But only 13 years later, they wrote the Declaration of Independence.

We will find out why the relationship soured so quickly in the next few weeks.

Exit Ticket

Please fill out the “exit ticket” and place them in a NEAT pile as you leave the room.