The French & Indian WarA Bloody Conflict

The Western Movement

• British colonists move into French territory• The French were not happy!

French Settlers

• Fishermen and fur traders• Friendly with Native Americans

Religion

• Jesuit priests seek to convert Native Americans to Catholicism.

Mixed Results

• Many priests died trying

The Fighting Begins

• George Washington fails to capture Fort Duquesne

Near Miss!

• A bullet went through Washington’s overcoat!

Let’s Make Friends

• Colonists worry about a war over land between Britain and France

• Ben Franklin to the rescue!• The Albany Plan

This Means War!

• War is declared in 1756• General Edward Braddock leads the British

British Strengths

• More people• Britain could use the colonies to recruit men• World’s greatest navy• Large army and strong generals• William Pitt (we’ll get to him later)

French Strengths

• Familiar with the hard life of the frontier• Had good relationships with Native Americans• French soldiers were experts at “Frontier

Fighting”

The French Play Defense

• Avoid big land battles• Defend those forts at all cost• Use your allies wisely

Things Go Wrong for the British

• General Braddock is killed• Ft. Oswego, Ft. William Henry are lost• Crown Point and Ft. Ticonderoga attacks fail

The British Make Changes

• William Pitt to the rescue

• WOW! The strategy works.

The Tide Turns

• General John Forbes captures Ft. Duquesne• The French army sets the fort on fire and flees

Endgame

• Don’t let the French get reinforcements

Momentum Builds

• Sir William Johnson and Iroquois allies capture Ft. Niagara for the British

The Final Straw

• The last French stronghold, Quebec, falls to the British

• SURPRISE!

After the War

• Treaty of Paris signed in 1763• France gave up all land east of the Mississippi

River except New Orleans• France gave Spain New Orleans and the area

of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River• Great Britain got Florida from Spain in

exchange for Cuba• France kept a few small islands

Effects of the War

• Weakened loyalty to Britain• Strained relations between Britain and the

American colonists• Colonists lose respect for British military

power

What do you think?

• Why did this war start?• Was it a fair fight?• Which side did the Native Americans take?• Were the terms of the treaty fair?• What would America look like today if the

French had won the war?