North America in 1750 Background The French were

North America in 1750

Background • The French were exploring the interior of America while the English colonists were settling the eastern coast • The English competed with the French for beaver furs – Fur trade created economic and military alliances between the Europeans and their Native American trading partners.

Conflict in the Ohio River Valley • The English started moving into the Ohio River Valley in the 1750 s – They wanted to settle colonists there • This concerned the French and their Native American allies • In 1753, the governor of Virginia sent a small group of soldiers to tell the French to leave

Who was involved? • French and their Native American allies – Spanish helped the French • England (British) and their colonists in America – The English had a 21 -year-old leader named George Washington

When did the French and Indian War take place? • The French and Indian war began in 1754. • This war became a part of the “Seven Years’ War” that was going on between France and England (1756 -1763) – The Seven Years’ War was not only fought in North America but in the Caribbean and throughout Europe

Why did this war take place? • France and England were in a long struggle over land in America and control of fur trading. – They both wanted to expand their European empires • The English were moving into the French territory and wanting to establish colonies in the Ohio River Valley

Where did the war take place?

What took place during the war? • Albany Plan of Union • Braddock’s Defeat – First formal proposal to unite the colonies as one – Benjamin Franklin suggested that the colonies ban together to fight against the French and Indians – The British realized that the colonists supply enough troops or money for the war – The British sent General Braddock from England to lead the fight • Helped George Washington – The French and Indians planned a surprise attack and Braddock was defeated and killed

The British Take Quebec • After three years of steady losses, the British were fed up • The British sent their best generals and troops to America to fight • They attacked New France’s capital of Quebec – Attack took two month, but the British finally won • The Battle of Quebec became a major turning point for the British

Results of the War • In other parts of the world, Britain and France continued to fight • When the fighting finally came to an end in 1763, both France and England signed the Treaty of Paris, 1763 – This treaty ended French power in North America • Britain claimed all of North America east of the Mississippi River • France gave Spain New Orleans and Louisiana for their help in the war

North America in 1763

How did the map of America change? • The British owned all land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River (excluding Florida) • Spain owned land from the Mississippi River west

How did things change in America? • Pontiac’s Rebellion – After the French forces left America, the British took over their forts • They refused to help the Native Americas – The colonists began moving over the Appalachian Mountains to create colonies • In response, the Native Americas attacked settlers and destroyed almost every British fort west of the Appalachians

Response to Pontiac’s Rebellion • After the British ended the Native attacks, they needed a plan • They realized that protecting the land west of the Appalachian Mountains would be very costly and was unnecessary

Proclamation Line of 1763 • The British issued the Proclamation of 1763 – This issue forbade the colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains • This issue angered the colonists because they felt they earned the right (by fighting with the British against the French) to settle in the newly gained British territory • The British became angry at the colonists because they refused to pay to protect themselves from Indian attacks • The fighting between the colonists and the British will start the long fight for the colonists’ independence

Proclamation Line of 1763