French and Indian
War
The fight for control of
North America
Conflict Between French & British
 Britain & France competed for
empire
 1754 – New France had 70,000
people, British colonies had
1,000,000 – both were expanding
 Fur traders & priests
 French had trade alliance with
natives
 1754, French built Fort Duquesne
on land English claimed
 Militia led by Washington built Ft.
Necessity, tasked with driving out
French
 Washington surrendered (and
admitted to assassinating a French
officer)
Recreation of Ft. Necessity
Causes of the F&I War
 Fight for world empire
 Britain and France claimed same land in
Ohio River Valley
 French built Ft. Duquesne
 British build Ft. Necessity, engaged in
conflict
 Washington showed bravery, colonists
saw weakness in British army
 1757 – King George II sent William Pitt
to run gov’t in colonies
 British started to win, Iroquois joined
them
 1759 – Gen. Wolfe attacked Quebec,
British won (he and French leader died
in battle)
Treaty of Paris - 1763
 Officially ended war
 Britain got N. America east of
Mississippi (including Canada)
 Spain got French land west of Miss.
River
 France kept a few islands
Benefits of War
 Ironworkers, shipbuilders & farmers
profited
 Acquisition of FL meant slaves couldn’t
run there
 United the colonies, self confidence
 Saw weaknesses in British army
 Washington gained reputation for bravery
 Britain built empire
Victory Brings Problems
 George Grenville – Prime Minister of
England, policies would alienate
colonies
 Natives feared growing # of British
 Pontiac led rebellion in Ohio River
Valley, captured 8 forts
 Smallpox infested blankets given to
peace negotiators, natives gave in
Victory Brings Problems
 Proclamation of 1763 – British
set line, said colonists couldn’t
expand west of Appalachian Mts
(colonists upset)
 Disaster for natives on both
sides, British harsher on them