Slide 1

French and Indian War1754-1763

Britain and FranceFighting to Maintain the Balance

Of Power in the Colonies

Slide 2

Tensions Explode!

France and England, by the late 17th century were at war, almost continuously, both in Europe and in the New World

Land = Power and neither was willing to budge an inch

Slide 3

Results of Prolonged Conflicts

Many colonial men died Enormous debt Britain establishes large navy and

standing army England excites a jingoist* sense of

nationalism

*ready to rage war; belligerent

Slide 4

Ohio River Valley Both Britain and

France claimed this land as theirs.

Adjunct-general of Virginia, Major George Washington tried to warn off French – failed

British build a fort on Ohio River

French come, destroy that fort, build a bigger fort – Ft. Duquesne

Slide 5

Washington, 1754

Heads off with a few men and Indian allies Meets a French regiment at Great

Meadows – first shots of this long war Washington retreated, but he became world

famous at the age of 22!

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The Albany Congress

June 19 – July 10, 1754 in Albany, N.Y.

All colonies from Maryland north met to discuss precautions and tactics

Ben Franklin suggests his Plan of Union

Plan of Union- a way to unite the colonies in both military and government

Plan was rejected both by the crown and the colonies

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Slide 9

General Braddock’s Defeat

Commander-in-chief of British forces in America

Planned attack on Ft. Duquesne

Thousands of Indians and Frenchmen dressed as Indians jump out of woods

Braddock is killed and most of Britain's supplies and artillery were abandoned.

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Quebec 1759

This was the most decisive battle of the war

Britain devastated the French forces

This battle virtually ended French power in North America for all time

Slide 12

Peace of Paris, 1763

Ended the war and French presence in North America

Britain takes all French possessions east of the Mississippi and Spanish Florida.

France gave Spain Louisiana

Slide 13

Britain’s Irony

In gaining Canada, the British put a plan into action that will result in their loss of all the rest of British North America – The American Revolution!

Slide 14

American, not British

After the war, more colonists see themselves as American, rather than British

Many of the soldiers, esp. those from New England, became convinced of their moral superiority to the British soldier

Slide 15

Writs of Assistance These were issued by Britain They were general search warrants that

allowed officers to enter any place during daylight to seek evidence of illegal trade

Many colonists were still trading with France (molasses)

James Otis was hired to fight these writs in court

He lost, but made the provocative argument that these acts from Parliament should be seen as “instruments of slavery” in violation of the British constitution and therefore void!

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Problems

1. Who should manage the defense of these new possessions?

2. What should be done about the western lands inhabited by Indians, but coveted by whites?

3. How should the British handle the debt of the war?

4. What role should the colonists play in all of this?

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Proclamation of 1763 This drew a line along the crest of the

Appalachians beyond which white settlers were forbidden to go

This line did not stay intact long due to various, dubious treaties made with Indians

Many hardy settlers headed west!

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