Ch. 6 – The Duel for North America
North America in 1750
French Canada
• French established Quebec in
1608 (a year after Jamestown)
– Founded by Samuel de
Champlain ("Father of New
France").
• Entered into friendship with
local Huron Indians, the
enemies of the Iroquois.
• Significance: Iroquois, in
retaliation, later kept French
from expanding into Ohio
Valley, ravaged French
settlements, & allied with
British.
New France expands in North America
• Of the European powers, the French
were most successful in creating an
effective trading relationship with the
Amerindians.
• British settlers sought to remove or
exterminate them.
• Spanish sought to Christianize them
and subdued them in missions.
• French became great gift givers (key
to getting along with Amerindians
who based inter-tribal relationships
on gift giving).
– Trade seen by Amerindians as a
continuing process.
– When one group stopped trading
with another, it was tantamount to
declaring war.
New France expands in North America
• Beaver trade led to exploration of
much of North America
– Heavy demand for fur in European
fashion.
– Coureurs de bois (runners of the
woods) were rough frontiersmen
heavily involved in fur trading.
– Voyageurs: French seamen who
recruited Amerindians into the fur
trade.
– Jesuits: Catholic Missionaries who
sought to convert Amerindians
and save them from the fur
trappers.
• Some brutally killed by Amerindians.
• Played a vital role as explorers and
geographers.
New France expands in North America
• Other French Explorers
– Antoine Cadillac -- founded Detroit in
1701
• Aimed to keep English settlers out of
the Ohio Valley.
– Robert de La Salle -- Sailed from
Quebec, down through Great Lakes,
and down the Mississippi River in
1682 with help of Amerindian guides.
• Sought to prevent Spanish expansion
into Gulf of Mexico region.
• Coined name "Louisiana" in honor of
Louis XIV.
Robert La Salle
New France expands in North America
• French established posts in
Mississippi region
– St. Louis, Cape Girardeau - New
Orleans most important.
– Attempt to block Spanish
expansion into the Gulf of Mexico.
– Large amounts of grain sent down
the Mississippi River for shipment
to West Indies & Europe.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• French & Indian War (17541763 -- Seven Years' War) --most
important of the colonial wars.
– Main issue was the Ohio Valley.
• British were pushing west into
it; wary of French influence in
North America.
• French needed to retain it to
link Canada with the lower
Mississippi valley &
Caribbean.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Washington’s Ohio Mission
– Battle near Fort Duquesne -- May, 1754
– Lt. Col. George Washington sent by
Virginia govt to forks of Ohio River to
prevent French from building fort there;
hoped instead to build a British fort
– Washington defeated and forced to
surrender his entire command but allowed
to leave with his army intact.
– In effect, Washington triggered a world
war.
– British retaliated by clamping down in
Nova Scotia.
• Relocated 4,000 Nova Scotians throughout
the continent including Louisiana.
• French-speaking Acadians became the
descendants of modern day "Cajuns“.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Albany Congress (1754)
– Leaders from all colonies met in Albany
to discuss Amerindian problem & meet
with Iroquois.
– Iroquois refused to commit themselves
to the British.
– Long-range purpose: greater colonial
unity; strong defense against France.
• Albany Plan for Union
– Benjamin Franklin created plan for
colonial home rule: dealt with defense
and Indian affairs.
• Adopted by delegates.
• Individual colonies rejected it: not
enough independence.
• British rejected it: too much
independence.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• British General Braddock
defeated a few miles from Ft.
Duquesne by smaller French
& Indian forces (1755).
– British launched full-scale
invasion of Canada in 1756
but failed.
• William Pitt (The "Great
Commoner") became leader
of British govt.
– Very popular among British
people; his success in the
war led to Ft. Duquesne
being renamed Pittsburgh.
– Strategy: focus on France in
North America in order to
win the war.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Battle of Quebec (1760)
– Pitt appointed James Wolfe
to take Quebec.
– British successful on the
Plains of Abraham (near
Quebec) but Wolfe & French
commander de Montcalm
were killed.
– One of most significant
battles in British & American
history.
Battle of Quebec - 1760
British – American Colonial Tensions
Colonials
Methods of
Fighting:
British
• Indian-style guerilla • March in formation or
tactics.
bayonet charge.
Military
• Col. militias served • Br. officers wanted to
Organization: under own captains. take charge of
colonials.
Military
Discipline:
• No mil. deference or • Drills & tough
Finances:
• Resistance to rising • Colonists should pay
protocols observed.
taxes.
Demeanor:
• Casual,
non-professionals.
discipline.
for their own defense.
• Prima Donna Br.
officers with servants
& tea settings.
French & Indian War (1754 – 1763)
• Treaty of Paris
(1763): In effect,
France was
removed from
North America
– (Technically, land
west of Mississippi
River still French
but not yet settled.)
Great Britain
emerged as the
dominant power in
North America & as
the leading naval
power in the world.
British – American Colonial Tensions
• Effects of the French & Indian War
on American Colonials:
– Colonies emerged from war with
increased confidence in their military
strength.
• Colonial military leaders angry few Americans
were promoted in British army.
– United them against a common enemy for
the first time.
– Created a socializing experience for all
the colonials who participated.
– Created bitter feelings towards British that
would only intensify.
– American westward expansion increased.
French barrier west of the Appalachians
was removed.
British – American Colonial Tensions
• Effects of the French & Indian War
on Great Britain:
– British upset American shippers traded
with Spanish & French West Indies.
– Some colonials refused to supply troops:
saw economic gain as more important
than loyalty to Britain.
• Only later agreed to commit troops when
Pitt offered to substantially reimburse
colonies.
– Increased her colonial empire in the
Americas & greatly enlarged England’s
debt.
– Britain’s contempt for the colonials
created bitter feelings.
• Therefore, England felt that a major
reorganization of her
American Empire was necessary!
More Colonial Trouble w/ Indians
• Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)
– Indians in Ohio Valley region angered at
British treatment of Indians during the last
years of the French and Indian War.
– Chief Pontiac, Ottowa chief, refused to
surrender his lands to British although France
(their ally in the war) had lost and were now
gone.
– Chief Pontiac led an Indian alliance against
whites in Ohio Valley & Great Lakes region.
• 9 of 11 British forts taken; several wiped out.
• Perhaps 2,000 lives lost, colonials driven from
homes on the frontier
– Took British 18 months to bring the rebellion
under control.
• Brits retaliated with germ warfare: blankets
infected with smallpox distributed among the
Native Americans.
• Proclamation of 1763
– In response to Pontiac’s rebellion,
George III signed an edict prohibiting
colonials to move west of the
Appalachians.
– British aim: Settle land disputes with
Indians fairly to prevent more uprisings
like Pontiac's and organize eventual
settlement and defense.
– Colonials infuriated: Many veterans
had fought in the war and felt betrayed
& that land was a birthright of British
citizens.
– Colonials generally ignored the
Proclamation and moved West anyway.
Proclamation of 1763