Wars of Empire War Rebellion French and British

Wars of Empire War, Rebellion, French, and British

European Competition and the Colonies • By mid 1700 s – France, England, Spain, and Netherlands locked in a worldwide struggle for empire. • In North America – Britain vs. France • 1689 – 1748 C. E. , fought a lot in Europe. But some fighting spilled into North America

European Competition and the Colonies • American Indians Affect the Balance of Power – • Most British/French wars ended in a cease fire. • Britain wanted France out of North America. • Had to neutralize the French advantage – What was the advantage?

European Competition and the Colonies • Native Americans understood the balance of power. • Both the British and French would try to woo Native Americans to their side. • What would happen if one side gained total control?

European Competition and the Colonies • The Balance Shifts – • Tipped toward the British due to higher population and harsh treatment of Native Americans. • Why did the French treat Native Americans differently? • French built forts for protection – manned by Native Americans, voluntarily.

The French and Indian War • Both the French and British wanted control of the Ohio River Valley. • To stop the British, the French built Fort Duquesne (western PA). • Angered, the British sent in troops to evict the French 1754 – led by a youngster named George Washington.

The French and Indian War • Washington’s troops defeated a small French force – but Washington was forced to surrender eventually. • Touched off a World War – America to Europe, Africa, the West Indies, and Asia. • This war is called: – Seven Years War (Europe) – The French and Indian War (Americas)

The French and Indian War • Early Battles – • 1755 CE – British defeated a French force in Nova Scotia. • But later had to retreat when they ran into a French and Indian ambush at Fort Duquesne. • Washington led the retreat.

The French and Indian War • 1756 -1757 CE – French destroyed British forts at Lake Ontario and Lake George. • Native Americans raid British settlements in PA and VA. • French are winning the war at this point!

The French and Indian War • 1758 -1759 CE – The tide of the war would shift. • British managed to cut off the French supply line from Europe. • Natives would abandon the French – Why? • By 1760, the British captured Quebec, Montreal – forced French to surrender.

The French and Indian War • Treaty of Paris 1763 - • Fighting continued in other parts of the world, however. • The British won major victories in India, the Philippines, and West Africa. • Treaty of Paris ended the war and gave the British: – – Canada Great Lakes Ohio River Valley Florida

The French and Indian War

Pontiac’s Rebellion • British victory meant bad news for the Native American’s –why? • Members of tribes including the Ottawa, Shawnee, Miami, Kickapoo, and Delaware began capturing British forts in the Ohio River Valley. • British referred to these attack’s as Pontiac’s Rebellion.

Pontiac’s Rebellion • What was the goal of the rebellion? – Weaken the British – Lure the French back • Failed to capture three biggest British forts. – Detroit – Niagra – Fort Pitt (formerly Fort Duquesne)

Pontiac’s Rebellion • 1764 C. E. – Native Americans began running out of guns and gunpowder. • Britain wanted to end the fighting quickly; Thomas Gage becomes the military commander. • Gage said peace is less expensive than war.

Pontiac’s Rebellion • Native nations agreed to peace as long as Britain retained settlement. • Proclamation of 1763 – Britain said they would not allow settlers past the Appalachian Mountains. • Not enough troops to stop settlement, however. – Settlers resented efforts to limit expansion.

Aftermath of the War • The French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion revealed tension between colonists and the British. • Britain – HUGE war debt, wanted more control of the colonies, thought colonists should pay for the war debt.

Aftermath of the War • Benjamin Franklin drafted Albany Plan of Union – join the colonies under British control. • It didn’t work – no colony wanted to give up full control. • 1760 s – British taxes would become too much for the colonists….