The Fight to Control North
America
The Intercolonial Wars
The Beaver Wars
•
Also know as the French and Iroquois Wars, this
conflict dominated eastern North America for most of
the 17th century
•
The Iroquois Confederacy, led by the Mowhawk and
armed by the English and Dutch, were looking to
expand their territory and monopolize the fur trade
•
England and France did not commit its standing
military to the conflict
•
The Algonquin, including the Huron, were supported
by French Coureurs du bois
•
Considered to be one of the bloodiest conflicts seen
in North America
•
The conflict led to the defeat of the Huron and other
Aboriginal nations, England asserted control over
much of the Iroquois territory, and the French tried to
gain the Iroquois as an ally who were now seeing the
English as the greater threat
•
The conflict concluded in 1701 with the Great Peace
of Montreal
The Intercolonial Wars
• Many intermittent conflicts preceded the Beaver Wars in North
America between 1689 and 1763 that led to the eventual
English control of the continent
• Each conflict in North America was an extension of the
dynastic wars fought between the major powers of Europe
• While some conflicts involved Spanish and Dutch forces, all
matched Great Britain, its colonies and its Native American
allies against France, its colonies and its Native American
allies
The Intercolonial Wars Timeline
Years of
War
1688–1697
North American War
King William's War
1st Intercolonial War
2nd Indian War
European War
Treaty
War of the Grand
Alliance
War of the League
of Augsburg
Treaty of Ryswick
(1697)
Nine Years' War
1702–1713
Queen Anne's War
2nd Intercolonial War
War of the
Spanish
Succession
Treaty of Utrecht
(1713)
1744–1748
King George's War
3rd Intercolonial War
War of Jenkins' Ear
War of the
Austrian
Succession
Treaty of Aix-laChapelle
(1748)
1754–1763
The French and Indian War
4th Intercolonial War or War of
Conquest (in Quebec)
6th Indian War
Seven Years' War
Treaty of Paris
(1763)
The Intercolonial Wars Timeline
King William’s War (1688 – 1697)
• Was the North American
theatre of the Nine Years'
War
• The Nine Years War was a
conflict in Europe where saw
France at war against a
coalition of other European
kingdoms including Spain
and England as Louis XIV
looked to expand his power
• Each kingdom in Europe
nearly went bankrupt during
the conflict and by the end
of the war were eager to end
it
•
England and France did not want to weaken
their position in Europe to support the war
effort in North America
•
New France and the Wabanaki Confederacy
were able to stop New England and the
Iroquois Confederacy expansion into Acadia
although Port Royal was captured in 1690
•
New Englanders also tried to seize Montreal
and Quebec but were soundly defeated by
prepared New France forces led by
Governor-General Louis de Buade de
Frontenac in 1690
•
New France and its allies attacked,
captured, and destroyed several New
England forts
•
The Treaty of Ryswick signed in September
1697 ended the war between the two
colonial powers, reverting the colonial
borders to the status quo but the peace did
not last long
King William’s War (1688 – 1697)
Frontenac receiving the envoy of Sir William Phipps demanding the surrender
of Quebec, 1690 when he famously said "I have no reply to make to your
general other than from the mouth of my cannons and muskets."
King William’s War (1688 – 1697)
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
• Was the North American theatre of the War of
the Spanish Succession fought between the
English and the French for control of the
continent
• In addition to the two main combatants, the war
also involved numerous Native American tribes
allied with each nation, and Spain, which was
allied with France
• The Iroquois Confederacy chose to remain
neutral in the conflict
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
•
Charles II of Spain had no heir and just before his death names his half-sister’s
grandson Philip as his successor
•
Philip V was also the grandson of Louis XIV of France and heir to the French Empire
•
Louis XIV saw this as an opportunity to control the Spanish Empire and expand his
power in Europe
•
The English, French, Dutch, and the Holy Roman Empire feared French domination
of Europe and backed Leopold I as Spanish successor
•
The Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713 and the Treaty of Rastatt was signed in
1714 to end the conflict
•
When the conflict in Europe ended, Spanish territory was broken up between the
major and minor powers in Europe and Philip V renounced his future succession to
the French crown; the balance of power in Europe was restored
•
The political landscape of North America was greatly altered
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
• The war in North America was fought on
three fronts:
1.Spanish Florida and the English Province of
Carolina
2.New England, Quebec, and Acadia
3.Newfoundland
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
North America in 1702
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
Spanish Florida and English Carolina
• Spanish Florida and the English Province of Carolina were each
subjected to attacks from the other
• The English engaged the French based at Mobile in what was
essentially a proxy war involving primarily allied Indians on both
sides
• The southern war did not result in significant territorial changes
• It did nearly wipe out the Indian population of Spanish Florida,
including parts of present-day southern Georgia, and destroyed
Spain's network of missions in the area.
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
New England, Acadia, and Quebec
•
The English colonies of New England fought against the French forces based in Acadia and the
Wabanaki Confederacy; Port Royal was captured in 1710
•
Acadia was remained Nova Scotia and Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal, the Acadian
capital was transferred to Louisbourg
•
Quebec City was repeatedly targeted by British expeditions but was never successfully reached
Newfoundland
•
In Newfoundland, English colonists based at St. John's disputed control of the island with the
French based at Plaisance
•
Most of the conflict consisted of economically destructive raids against the other side's
settlements.
•
The French successfully captured St. John's in 1709, but the British quickly reoccupied it after the
French abandoned it.
Queen Anne’s War (1702 – 1713)
North America in after the Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713
King George's War (1744 – 1748)
•
Name given to the military operations in North America that formed part of
the War of the Austrian Succession
•
It took place primarily in the British provinces of New York, Massachusetts
Bay, New Hampshire, and Nova Scotia
•
The French with the help of the Mi’kamq and Maliset tried to retake
Annapolis Royal but failed due to an uncoordinated attack
•
Its most significant New England action was an expedition organized by
Massachusetts Governor William Shirley that captured the French Fortress
of Louisbourg in 1745
•
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the war in 1748
•
Louisbourg was returned to France and no territory changed hands; this
was one catalyst that caused the American War of Independence
King George's War (1744 – 1748)
View of the English landing on the Island of Cape Breton to attack the
Fortress of Louisbourg, 1745
French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Was the North American theatre of the worldwide Seven Years' War
fought between the colonies of British North America and New
France
• Both sides supported by military units from their parent countries of
Great Britain and France, as well as Native American allies
• At the start of the war, the French North American colonies had a
population of roughly 60,000 while British North America had about
2 million people; the French were greatly outnumbered
• Conflict between Great Britain and France broke out in 1754–1755
when the British attacked disputed French positions in North
America and seized hundreds of French merchant ships
French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)
French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• After the fall of Fort Beauséjour, located on the border between
Acadia (New Brunswick) and Nova Scotia, the Acadians were
deported from Nova Scotia in 1755; Mi’kmaq were driven from their
lands
• Many made their way to Louisbourg, but the Fortress fell in 1758
• Britain then attacked the French capital Quebec in 1759; British
General Wolfe defeated French General Montcalm at the Battle of
the Plains of Abraham
• Montréal was captured in 1760
• The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War in 1763 with almost
all of North America under British control
French and Indian War (1754 – 1763)