Name:___________________________________ Period:____ Date:___________________
French and Indian War Jig-Saw Activity
British-French Rivalry:
1.) Why was there a rivalry between France and Great Britain during the 1700’s?
2.) What event helped increase bitterness between the French and British in America?
3.) Why did France have more Native America allies than the British?
4.) What was the Iroquois Confederacy? Which side were they initially on (British or French)?
Which side did they join in the end?
American Colonists Take Action:
1.) What was George Washington’s original mission in the Ohio River Valley? Was he
successful?
2.) When Washington returned to the Ohio River Valley, what were his new orders? What did
Washington discover when he got to the Ohio River Valley?
3.) What did Washington decide to do after seeing Fort Duquesne being constructed? Describe
this event.
4.) What was the Albany Plan of Union? Why did it fail?
The British Take Action:
1.) Why were the British colonists concerned that the French were, “…making themselves
masters of this Continent (North America)”?
2.) Who was appointed to be the commander in chief of the British forces during the French and
Indian War? What was his mission?
3.) Why did Washington criticize Braddock? What happened to Braddock?
4.) What were some of the French’s initial successes in the War?
5.) How did Britain’s prospects begin to change? What was the new goal of the War?
The Fall of New France/Trouble on the Frontier:
1.) What was the British colonists’ greatest victory during the War? Describe this event.
2.) What two events brought an end to the War? Who won? What document ended the War?
What did the British and Spanish gain?
3.) What problems did Native American’s face after the War? What was Pontiac’s War?
4.) What was the Proclamation of 1763? Why might this have angered colonists? What do you
think the colonists did as a result of this Proclamation?
French and Indian War Jig-Saw Activity
ANSWERS
British-French Rivalry:
1.) Why was there a rivalry between France and Great Britain during the 1700’s?
Both want control of land west of Appalachian Mountains, competed for wealth and empire all
over the world.
2.) What event helped increase bitterness between the French and British in America?
Both became interested in Ohio Rover valley. France had been there first (fur trade). British
built a fort and France attacked it causing the British to retaliate (Cape Breton Island north of
Nova Scotia).
3.) Why did France have more Native America allies than the British?
French were interested mainly in fur trading, they did not want Native land like the British (also
many French married Native women and converted them to Catholicism).
4.) What was the Iroquois Confederacy? Which side were they initially on (British or French)?
Which side did they join in the end?
The most powerful eastern native America group (Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga,
Oneida). Initially neutral and played both sides. Eventually join the British (reluctantly).
American Colonists Take Action:
1.) What was George Washington’s original mission in the Ohio River Valley? Was he
successful?
He was told by the Virginian governor to survey the territory and tell the French that it was
British land and they must leave. He was not successful. The French told him to leave.
2.) When Washington returned to the Ohio River Valley, what were his new orders? What did
Washington discover when he got to the Ohio River Valley?
He was to return with a militia and build a military fort. The French were already building a fort
(Fort Duquesne)
3.) What did Washington decide to do after seeing Fort Duquesne being constructed? Describe
this event.
He built a small fort (Fort Necessity). He then attacked the French but was defeated captured
and eventually returned home.
4.) What was the Albany Plan of Union? Why did it fail?
An attempt to unite the colonies into one government to help fight off the French. It failed
because colonies did not want to give up their power.
The British Take Action:
1.) Why were the British colonists concerned that the French were, “…making themselves
masters of this Continent (North America)”?
French had well-armed forts throughout the great lakes region and ohio river valley. They had
strong alliances with Natives and controlled vast amounts of land in Canada and America. They
were winning control of the frontier.
2.) Who was appointed to be the commander in chief of the British forces during the French and
Indian War? What was his mission?
General Edward Braddock. Drive the French from the Ohio Valley region.
3.) Why did Washington criticize Braddock? What happened to Braddock?
Braddock moved slowly, the marching style of the troops was not good for the frontier, uniforms
(brightly colored) are easy targets to pick off. Braddock and his men were ambushed and
Braddock and 1,000 British were killed (Washington escaped).
4.) What were some of the French’s initial successes in the War?
Captured several british forts, raided frontier farms in NY and PA. Killed settlers, burned crops.
In Canada they captured British forts on Lack Ontario and Lake George.
5.) How did Britain’s prospects begin to change? What was the new goal of the War?
William Pitt became the Prime Minister. He said Britain would pay for the war fully. His new
commanders captured Forts at Lake Ontario and Fort Duquesne. He changed the goal to conquer
French Canada as well as the Western territories.
The Fall of New France/Trouble on the Frontier:
1.) What was the British colonists’ greatest victory during the War? Describe this event.
The capture of the capital of New France (Quebec). Thought it was impossible to attack (on a
cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River). Brattish general James Wolf sent soldiers up a path at
the back of the cliff during night. The surprise attack allowed them to take Quebec.
2.) What two events brought an end to the War? Who won? What document ended the War?
What did the British and Spanish gain?
Fall of Quebec and capture of Montreal (Jeffrey Amherst). British. Treaty of Paris. Britain
gained France, land east of the Mississippi, and Florida. Spain got French land west of
Mississippi (Louisiana Territory) and the port of New Orleans. (continent now dominated by
Spain and Britain).
3.) What problems did Native American’s face after the War? What was Pontiac’s War?
Lost French allies and trading partners, british raised prices and refused to pay natives for land.
British settlers start taking native land. Chief Pontiac (Ottawa village chief), united natives to
fight british. Captured some forts and killed settlers on frontier but eventually defeated and signs
peace treaty.
4.) What was the Proclamation of 1763? Why might this have angered colonists? What do you
think the colonists did as a result of this Proclamation?
Britain set the Appalachian mountains as the boundary for the colonies (cannot settle to the
west). Angered people who had bought land or wanted to move into the new frontier areas. It
could lead to rebellion or war.