6-1 How did the French and Indian War change relations between the colonists and
Britain?
Conflicting claims over the Ohio River Valley:
Both Britain and France claimed the Ohio Valley.
In 1750, the French sent soldiers to the Ohio Valley to drive out the British. The
British saw this as an act of war and fought back.
The French and Indian War
War fought between the French and the British
Began in 1754 and later spread to Europe
Both the French and British formed alliances with the Native Americans
In June 1754, delegates, including Ben Franklin were sent to Albany to talk about
how to deal with the French.
Ben Franklin suggests the colonies uniting to fight the French (the Albany Plan of
Union). This plan is rejected because the colonies are not yet willing to fight
together.
George Washington led the Virginians. On July 3, 1754, the French and their
Native American allies attacked the Virginians. The Virginians were
outnumbered and gave up. This was the beginning of the French and Indian
War.
Early British Defeats
Colonists needed help in order to win the war so Parliament sent an army, led by
General Edward Braddock, to help fight the French and their allies.
Early battles did not go well for the British and Braddock was killed in the
fighting. This was because the French fought like their Native American allies,
from behind trees and rocks. The British were used to fighting in open fields and
became easy targets.
Britain wins control
Britain sent more troops and supplies and the war slowly turned in its favor.
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War in 1763. The treaty gave
Britain most of Canada, all French lands east of the Mississippi River, and
Spanish Florida.
More Trouble
Colonists continued to have trouble with Native Americans when they tried to
move into the land of the Ohio Valley.
The Proclamation of 1763, passed by King George III, said that all lands weat of
the Appalachian Mountains belonged to the Native Americans. White settlers
were told to leave. Colonists ignored the King. They did not like the British
government telling them to stay out of those lands.
Paying for the War
When Britain realized they needed more money to pay off the cost of the French
and Indian War, they began to tax the colonists.
In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act, which taxed the sugar and molasses
brought into the colonies from the West Indies. Merchants objected to the taxes.
0
