French and Indian War

Chief Pontiac (Chief of the Ottawa)

“These lakes these woods and mountains were left to us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance and we will part with them to no one … You ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us in these spacious lakes and on the woody mountains”

The British Side

British

Colonies

Iroquois

Fight European Style - In Rows

Ben Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union tries to get colonies to help England - Colonies say “NO!”

Avoid most fighting

Only want goods

The French Side

French

Most Native Americans

Coureurs de Bois, military fought like Indians - Guerilla Warfare

Feared the English moving west in large numbers

Albany Plan of Union

Ben Franklin of Pennsylvania urges 13 colonies (who don’t get along), to create a union to help the British war effort

Colonies refuse – lack of cooperation British aren’t disappointed – fear the

colonies working together might create a problem

French troops from Canada march south; seize and fortify the Ohio Valley. Britain protests the invasion and claims Ohio for itself.

Young George Washington (21 y.o.) in charge of VA militia

Who was George Washington?

Washington’s Early Years

Born in Virginia—February 22, 1732

At least 8 years of schooling—best in math

Age 11; his father died. Raised by Older Brothers and Uncles

He travelled around to different areas until he was appointed by as an adjutants in February 1753, with the rank of major in the Virginia militia

1754 - Battle of Jumonville GlenEnsign de Jumonville and a third of his escort is killed by a the Half King Native and George Washington’s army.

Washington named Fort Necessity After retiring from Jumonville, Washington and the

Virginians at Great Meadows constructed a fort.

Lack of control leads to a poorly established

fort, betrayal by the Natives,

and Washington’s surrender, where

He takes blame for the death of

Jumonville.

England brings in 66 year old, ambitious but arrogant William Braddock to lead the forces

Braddock “halted to level every mole hill and to erect bridges over every brook by which means we were four days getting twelve miles” (Washington)

Braddock’s Dilemma: Tried to fight a European style war in the wilderness of Pennsylvania.

Braddock Marches to Duquesne

July 9, 1755: Native American Warriors and French troops ambushed Braddock and his men

The French and Native Americans hid behind trees and fired at the bright uniforms of the British

The British are confused and frightened

The British lose nearly 1,000 soldiers

1755- 1757 should be considered disastrous for the English

During the battle on July 9th Braddock is mortally wounded.

Braddock dies and is buried in the middle of the road

The Turning of the Tide

King George II selected new leader to run government in 1757

Lord William Pitt borrowed $$$, “Spend Now, Pay later”

Assembled largest, best-equipped army ever seen in N.A. with 50,000 men.

Adapted war strategies to fit the territory and landscape of the American frontier.

Became allies with important Natives, ie. Iroquis

Ft. Ticonderoga 1758 – The British get their victory, as the French abandon their post. However, friction between British authorities and colonists threaten the war effort.

Pitt relaxes policies: This renewed support by colonists

England and their resources

The Tide Turns for EnglandPitt focuses on 3 main goals to defeat the French:Take control of…Louisburg, Quebec and Montreal

Louisbourg

The British decided to attack Louisbourg in Cape Breton Island

The French were surprised and surrendered after a short skirmish

Now they controlled access to the St. Lawrence River

Native-American allies begin to abandon the French who are outnumbered, confused, exhausted, outgunned, & low on supplies

Quebec along the St. Lawrence River

The British hoped to lure the French out of their fortress to give battle. They repeatedly attacked the French at various points of the fortress with the same result, defeat and high casualties.

In frustration, the British began to bombard the city of Quebec day and night in an attempt to break their spirits.

They also began burning farms and crops along the St. Lawrence but still the French refused to surrender.

Montcalm realized that the British were running out of time. If he could hold out a little longer, Wolfe would have to break off his attack and come back next year.

Finally, in another desperate move, Wolfe landed his army upstream from Quebec at a small bay called Anse au Falon.

His army scaled the cliffs there to reach a level field just outside the fortress called The Plains of Abraham.

Montcalm thought that if he could attack the British while they were still assembling at the top of the cliff that he could defeat them.

At around 10:00 the French shouted "Vive le Roy!" and the battle formally began with Montcalm ordering a general advance.

But the French formation that started down the hill was uncoordinated

Unfortunately for Montcalm, by the time the French army assembled to attack the British were ready for action. The British had finally succeeded in drawing the French out of the safety of their fort.

The British siege of Quebec began the night of Thursday, July 12, 1759.

"At precisely 9 o'clock in the evening,

the enemy sent a rocket from the heights of the Pointe de Lévy..."

The British loaded their muskets with two balls each and the devastating volley that followed forced the French to retreat.

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham lasted only 15 minutes but both Wolfe and Montcalm were killed in that time.

MAP 6.1 The War for Empire in North America, 1754–1763

The French lost all of their colonies in North America (except St. Pierre and Miquelon) and when the Seven Years War ended the next year Britain had become the dominant power in the world (and would remain so until after World War II)

The Death of General James Wolfe

Fallen Soldiers on the Plains

France --> lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India & all claims to lands east of the Mississippi River

Spain --> got all French lands west of the Mississippi River (New Orleans) but lost Florida to England

England --> got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to Caribbean slave trade & commercial dominance in India

1763 Treaty of Paris

North America in 1763

1. It increased Britian’s colonial empire in America

2. It greatly enlarged England’s debt3. England felt that a major reorganization of

her American Empire was necessary!

Effects of the War on Britain & America?

Britain

America1. It united the colonies further

2. It created a socializing experience for all the colonials who participated

MAP 6.2 European Claims in North America, 1750 and 1763