The French and Indian Notes

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The French and Indian War

Introduction The French and Indian War was the North American conflict in a larger war between Great Britain and France known as the Seven Years’ War. The French and Indian War began in 1754 and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The war provided Great Britain great territorial gains in North America, but arguments over ensuing frontier policy and paying for the wars expenses led to colonial discontent and ultimately the American Revolution.

Consequences The Treaty Of Paris

In the Treaty of Paris, France had to give England all of Canada and the eastern half of Louisiana. In exchange, they retained control of a few Caribbean sugar islands and two fishing islands along the Canadian coast. Spain gained control of the western half of the Louisiana Territory

British Resentment

With France removed from North America, the vast interior of the continent lay open for the Americans to colonize. But The English government decided otherwise. This infuriated the Americans who, after having been held back by the French, now saw themselves stopped by the British.

American Revolution

The British victory in the French and Indian War had a great impact on the British Empire. Firstly, it meant a great expansion of British territorial claims in the New World. But the cost of the war had greatly enlarged Britain's debt. Additionally, the war generated considerable resentment towards the colonists among English leaders, who were not satisfied with the financial and military help they had received from the colonists during the war. All these factors combined to persuade many English leaders that the colonies needed a major reorganization and that the central authority should be in London. The English leaders set in motion plans to give London more control over the government of the colonies and these plans were eventually a big part of the colonial resentment towards British imperial policies that led to the American Revolution.

Death toll

Around 5000 people lost their lives during the French and Indian War.

Causes Ohio Valley

A Virginia militia, under the command of Major George Washington, was mobilized to ask the French to vacate the Ohio territory peacefully. They refused, but Washington didn't have a large enough force to overpower Fort Duquesne. Now-Colonel Washington returned the following year with more men and proceeded to build his own stockade nearby, called Fort Necessity. The French captured the new fort, and when word reached England, King George II declared war in 1756.

Native Americans

Both European countries used Native American claims to the land. The British said it belonged to their Iroquois Indians, and the French said it belonged to their Hurons.

Others

Both the British and the French said they owned the Ohio country.

Both wanted it for strategic reasons, for the fur trade, and for possible future settlement

Protection for Colonist