French and Indian War. Learning Objectives Understand the organization of the British Empire Explain...

French and Indian War

Learning Objectives

• Understand the organization of the British Empire

• Explain the impact of the French and Indian War on both the British and Colonists

Change in Attitude Towards Colonies

• Charles II became King in 1660, passed Navigation Acts– Import or export goods only to and from

Great Britain; all goods had to be transported on English ships

– Purpose: create a self-sufficient empire supporting England

Government Setup

• Rights of English Citizens: right to be tried by jury, right to petition the gov.t, right to live under laws approved by legislature (Parliament)– House of Burgesses: 1st elected law-

making body in the Americas (Virginia)

Government Setup• 1750 - Each colony had its

own elected Assembly, and it shared power w/ governor (appointed by crown)

• Governor had power to veto laws passed, dissolve the assembly

• Assembly controlled governor by withholding pay

• Assembly used to running own gov.t; royal instructions are looked at as only guidelines

• King• Parliament

(lawmaking)– Governor– Each colonies’

Assembly– Town Assemblies

French and Indian War (7 Years War)

• Why it started: Fight over the Ohio River Valley between the British and the French (1753)

• 1754 - Washington and Virginia militiamen hastily built Fort Necessity, but lost in the engaged battle to the French from Fort Duquesne

• British also lost Native American support in area

• First shots fired in the French and Indian War that will spread throughout Europe, West Indies, Africa and Asia

End of Conflict

• Treaty of Paris (1763): – France had to give up claims to both

Canada and Mississippi River Valley– Britain took over Canada, part of Louisiana

lands east of Mississippi River– Spain gained all of Louisiana lands west of

Mississippi River

• Great Britain became most powerful nation

Struggle with Native Americans

• Pontiac’s Rebellion: (1763) Native Americans attacked British fort of Detroit; British worried about future attacks

• Proclamation of 1763: set aside Ohio River Valley as an Indian Reservation; colonists couldn’t cross crest of Appalachian Mountains

• Angered the colonists; felt betrayed because they felt they were promised if helped fight against the French, they would be allowed to expand

Increasing Tensions

• British planned to send 10,000 troops to enforce Proclamation of 1763; problem was how to support them

• Britain - has huge debt problems; raised taxes in Britain, but not enough

• King George III wanted colonists to pay for portion of war, but knew the assemblies would never vote to help; colonists nervous about plans for British troops

• FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE TROUBLE!