The Road to War

1. The Road to War The French and Indian War

2. Key Terms French and Indian War- Conflict between France, Spain, and their Native American allies; and the British and their Native American Allies for control of lands west of the Appalachian Mountains Albany Plan of Union- An attempt to create a unified colonial government for the defense of the colonies Treaty of Paris- The document that brought an end to the French and Indian War

3. Colonial North America

4. The French and Indian War • France and England along with Spain, and the Netherlands were the major world powers in the mid 1700’s • England’s many colonies led to the coining of the term “The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire” • England and France were the two that had major holdings in North America • France held land in what is today Canada and west of the Appalachian Mountains

5. The French and Indian War • Early on, English settlement was restricted to the Atlantic Coast • Due to increased settlement, British settlers started to move west • Fur trappers also worked west of the Appalachians • The French began to feel threatened by this expansion • They were eager to protect their land from their rival

6. Native Americans • The French won the support of most of the native tribes in the region • The French were mainly trappers who worked with the Native Americans and respected their land • British settlers were mainly farmers who took land to create farms and largely ignored native American sovereignty • The British did gain Iroquois support as they were enemies with a tribe that sided with the French

7. War Begins • Small scuffles occurred three times between 1689 and 1748 • The French and Indian war broke out in 1754 • A young surveyor was sent west to build a fort for the British • He learned later that the French had built Fort Duquesne at the very spot at which he was ordered to build • The surveyor launched a successful surprise attack on the French and then set up a hastily built Fort Necessity • He was forced to surrender the fort after being outnumbered 700- 150 during the French Counterattack • This young surveyors name… George Washington

8. The Albany Congress • Delegates from 7 colonies met in Albany to create a unified colonial defense • Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union • Representatives from all 13 colonies would form a “Grand Council” • They would make laws, raise taxes and set up the defense of the colonies • It was accepted by the delegates but unanimously defeated by the colonial councils

9. British Struggles • General Edward Braddock mounted an ill fated attack on Fort Duquesne in 1755 • He was warned by the Iroquois and Washington that the French were ready • He ignored the warning and pushed ahead • The French launched a surprise attack • Red coats made for easy targets • Braddock had 5 horses shot out from under him before he was finally hit • Half of the British force was killed or wounded • Washington was nearly killed as well

10. The Tide Turns • In 1757, William Pitt became the head of British Government • He made defeating the French in North America priority number one • He felt that if they beat the French in North America, they would be able to control the entire world • He sent Britain’s top General, and called for support from the colonists by promising monetary payments for military services and supplies • The strategy worked and the British won after several more years of struggle • When the British captured Fort Duquesne, they renamed it Fort Pitt • The city of Pittsburgh grew around this site

11. The Treaty of Paris • The official end of the war did not come until 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris • Britain gained Canada as well as all French land east of the Mississippi • France was able to keep its holdings in the West Indies • Spain gave up Florida to Britain • France had to give Spain all of its land West of the Mississippi • Also got New Orleans

12. Things to Consider The French and Indian War changed the landscape of Colonial North America The British gained a great deal of land at the expense mainly of their rival the French The British spent large sums of money “protecting” the colonies The first real attempt at uniting the colonies came about during the war