The British vs. The French in America French British Catholic Few Permanent settlements Main Economic Activity: fur trade Preferred by Natives many native Allies Growing Rich from America World Empires Wealthy Enemies Protestant Many Permanent settlements & large towns Main Economic activity: farming Few native allies
ON THE EVE OF WAR French: Afraid of losing Fur Trade region of Ohio Country Covet the region of the upper Ohio River Valley Build forts in the Region (Ex. Ft. Le Boeuf near Erie) British: Colonies are growing in population and need more land! Begin pushing westward. Covet the Ohio country for expansion. A young man named George Washington is sent from Virginia to scout out region and expel the French
BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR Dates: 1754 to 1763 (#1) Location: Quebec, Northeastern Coast and Great Lakes region (Western Pennsylvania!) French and Algonquin tribes vs. British, American Colonists and Iroquois Confederacy Expanded into Europe as the Seven Years War (#2) (1756 1763) British Victory: Treaty of Paris-1763
GEORGE WASHINGTON DELIVERS A MESSAGE! DEC. 11, 1753 Washington and Christopher Gist are sent to deliver a message to the French. They travel from VA to Ft. Le Boeuf (near Lake Erie). The message tells the French that the British claim the land known as the Ohio Country (west of the Appalachian Mtns.) The French claim the land is theirs!
WASHINGTON AND GIST NEARLY DROWN! While crossing the Allegheny River on a raft. Managed to make it to a small island in the river. By morning, they were able to cross over the frozen river to safety. G.W. s life is spared - #1
.AT FT. LEBEOUF
WASHINGTON STARTS THE F & I WAR! MAY 28, 1754 G.W. and VA militia (citizen soldiers) are assigned to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio Larger French force overtakes it during construction and names it Ft. Duquesne(#6). Washington and his men leave to return to VA with the information.
THE SPARK When Washington returns to Western PA to help finish the fort, the British come upon a French camp Battle of Jumonville Glen (#3) May 28, 1754 Ultimately triggers French & Indian War Lt. George Washington and 40 soldiers ambush French militia led by Ensign de Jumonville in early AM Jumonville killed in battle (assassinated by the Indian leader The Half King ), an act which starts the war
WASHINGTON SURRENDERS AT THE GREAT MEADOWS - JULY 3-4, 1754 G.W. and his militia hastily built a stockade for protection from the French & Indians called (# 4) Ft. Necessity. A strong storm wet their powder and flooded the fort. (#5)G. Washington and his men were captured.
THE VIRGINIANS MUST SIGN AN AGREEMENT PROMISING TO STAY OUT OF THE AREA FOR 1 YR. The document was written in French (G.W. could not read French). He and his men were permitted to march out since France and GB were not officially at war. By signing the paper, G.W. unknowingly admitted to assassinating the French leader Jumonville G.W. s life is spared - #2
BRITISH GEN. BRADDOCK ARRIVES TO CAPTURE FT. DUQUESNE Braddock with 2,600 British soldiers march toward (#7)Ft. Duquesne, attempting to capture it. They make a road from VA to the OH Country. After crossing the Mon. river, they march on at Turtle Creek (near Kennywood Park today). The march in order while playing drums!
FRENCH & INDIANS AMBUSH THE BRITISH JULY 9, 1755 G.Washington, acting as a (#8) guide and advisor (Aide-de-Camp) for the British, warns Braddock that the French & Indians will use (#10) guerilla tactics in battle (ambush - shoot from cover then move to new spots). Braddock does not heed G.W s warning 1000 British are killed along with Gen.Braddock Regular forces (French and British) use European tactics (#11): -Soldiers form parallel lines and face off at 100 yards or less -Several volleys of musket fire precede a bayonet charge
Battle of the Monongahela July 9, 1755 Tough terrain French defenders prepare an ambush Braddock fatally wounded (#9) George Washington becomes a hero French inflict defeat on British
FRENCH IN FULL CONTROL OF THE OHIO COUNTRY Washington helped the British retreat while carrying the mortally wounded Braddock. G.W. had bullets go through his coat and horses shot from under him his life is spared again! - #3. Braddock is buried under the road in the mountains (1 mile west of Fort Necessity)
WILLIAM PITT NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE IN BRITAIN (SOON BECOMES PRIME MINISTER) William Pitt (#12)takes over wartime operations and plans a new campaign to defeat the French in the OH Country. This is seen as the turning point of the war. In 1757, he gives command to Gen. Forbes along with 2000 British troops. Forbes cuts a road across PA to take Ft. Duquesne. Ft. Ligonier (Loyalhannah)
FT. LIGONIER ATTACKED BY FRENCH & INDIANS OCT. 12, 1758 About 50 miles from Ft. Duquesne, this fort was Forbes advance base for their march to capture the French fort. French & Indians stage an attack on Ft. Ligonier to make the British think they are a powerful force. G.W. stops a friendly fire incident saved #4
GEN. FORBES AND COL. WASHINGTON DECIDE TO MARCH ON TO FT. DUQUESNE The trick fails when a prisoner from Ft. Duquesne informs the British that the French have very few men and few Indian allies at this time. With weather conditions deteriorating, they begin the final assault on Ft. Duquesne.
FT. DUQUESNE FALLS NOV. 25.1758 Camped a few miles away, the British hear explosions and learn that the French blew up parts of their fort and (#13) abandoned it. The British allow it to burn down and later begin constructing (#14)Ft. Pitt, after William Pitt. British are now in control of the OH Country.
END OF THE LINE FOR THE FRENCH With loss of (#15) Quebec (1759), New France is practically finished French Navy in Europe defeated at Quiberon Bay, cannot send help British blockade Montreal Only a matter of time before French are finished off.
THE TREATY OF PARIS February 10, 1763 Signed by Great Britain, France, and Spain, with Portugal in agreement France loses New France and all claims to the territory east of the Mississippi River Spain ceded Florida to British, but later gets New Orleans and Louisiana from France France retained islands Saint Pierre Miquelon
BUSHY RUN AUG.5-6,1763 British Colonel Henry Bouquet returns to the OH Country with British troops to stop Indian raids on settlers near Ft. Pitt. He marches across PA using Forbes Road (today s Rt. 30). The battle took place at Bushy Run (near today s Greensburg).
AFTERMATH OF WAR England now largest colonial empire in the world The Colonists are independence minded under British rule North America most prosperous area on earth The French still continue to inhabit areas around Quebec and Montreal
CONCLUSION The war gave control of North America to British Colonial officers fought in the Revolutionary War France and Spain cede control to England and never regain former possessions Legacy of French colonialism lives on today in Frenchspeaking Quebec Eastern Native American tribes suffered greatly and continued rapid decline