Revolution and Independence
French and Indian War 1754-1763
Was a war fighting against the English- “England and France compete in North America”
-
Tiny part to a bigger war (7 years war in Europe spills over into their colonies)
Question
-
How was 1763- the end of this war- a turning point in British-colonial relations?
I.
French and English Collide
A.
This is going to be the bloodiest war of the 1700s and will take more lives than
the American Revolution
B.
War was a result of fighting between the French and English between their
colonies and who will get trading rights etc.
1.
In 1740s both English and French are trading furs with NAs which causes
fighting in the Ohio region
2.
In 1750s english decides to settle the land that the NAs are living on
(Ohio region)
II.
Why are they going to fight?
A.
Land and trading rights (wealth)
B.
English are proud to be English and fighting for England since English and
French are rivals in Europe
III.
Ohio Valley (region)
A.
Each side tried to keep the other out of the Ohio Valley
1.
it was mostly owned by the French but the English want more land in this
area
IV.
War began when General George Washington and a few men demanded that the
French leave the Ohio Valley and the French say no
V.
Prelude to War 1754
A.
Washington hoped to capture Ft. Duquesne from the French (they built this fort to
defend themselves and their territory from the English) but soon realized that
they weren’t strong enough and retreated when they were chased out
1.
Takeaway- British and French are fighting over land and trading rights in
the Ohio Valley
2.
After the English built Fort Necessity then the French take it away
B.
War seems inevitable
1.
Albany Congress
a)
Benjamin Franklin and some other leaders call for a conference in
Albany and colonists from most of the colonies to discuss a union
to defend themselves against the french and NAs
(1)
First time that colonies form a formal union and the
colonies are all uniting for the first time for the purpose of
defending themselves
b)
Ben Franklin made a document that said that although we are
ruled by the English we should have our own governing structure
here so we can unite and fight
(1)
“Join or Die” is the first political cartoon of the colonies
(a)
The letters are the colonies and the snake is not
united to show that the only way they will survive is
if they unite- Need to join the parts of the snake in
order to defend themselves
c)
The people would be elected and it would be headed by a person
chosen by the king to be the general president
(1)
First baby step to Union- Albany plan is very similar to the
Constitution
d)
Colonial legislatures (from the 13 colonies) rejected the plan
(1)
Colonies weren’t ready to unite
C.
War is formally declared 1756
1.
the war was fought for 3 years
2.
French defeated the British at Ticonderoga
D.
Colonists Fortunes Reverse
1.
William Pitt becomes Prime Minister of England and says they he will not
let the colonists lose the war
2.
Three Pronged Plan
a)
1. Kick the French out of North America
b)
2. Stimulate the economy in the colonies
