The French and Indian War

MAIN IDEA: Britain’s Victory in the French and Indian War Marked the End of the French Empire in North America.

BackgroundFrench and Spanish owned land surrounding British coloniesColonies could not expandOhio River Valley was extremely important to French:

Connected land in Canada to land on the Mississippi River

French had profitable trade relations with N-A’sBritain wanted to trade with N-A’s for fur

Native Americans Choose Sides

Native Americans needed to choose sides:

British:• Farmers• Cleared/destroyed N-A land• Allies with Iroquois• Iroquois and British were enemies of the

Algonquin and Huron tribes

Native Americans Choose Sides

French:Trappers and TradersDid not clear/destroy landMarried into and adopted N-A waysAllies with Algonquin and Huron Tribes

Fighting Breaks out in 1754

British traveled into French land (in the Ohio River Valley)Built Fort Necessity near French Fort Duquesne

Built by George Washington

French attacked and wonReleased Washington

Albany Congress of 1754

Delegates from 7 colonies2 Goals:

Cement alliance with IroquoisPlan a united Colonial defense

Albany Plan of Union:Ben FranklinWanted to unite the colonies under one commanderAll colonies rejected the plan

British Luck

British lost most battlesWilliam Pitt turned the tied of the War

Became head of the British gvn’t in 1757Encouraged colonists to join the fight by offering them large payments for supplies and serviceSeized Fort Duquesne and renamed it Fort Pitt

End of the War

1759, British claimed Quebec (France’s most important possession)1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed:

Ended conflictMarked the end of French power in North America

Treaty of Paris

Britain gained all French land East of the Mississippi River except New Orleans and West IndiesSpain gained all French land West of the Mississippi River and New Orleans