Rivalry in North
America
CHAPTER 4, SECTION 4
Rivalry Between the French and the British
Both were leading European powers
Ohio River Valley
 West of the Appalachian Mountains
 Rich in resources
 Both thought they had right to the land
French built a series of forts to protect area.
When British built a fort, the French seized it.
 Then built their own fort on top of it.
Rivalry Between the French and the British
Spring, 1754:
Militia: military force made up of
ordinary citizens
◦ Travel from Virginia to Ft. Duquesne.
◦ Led by a guy named George Washington.
◦ Build Fort Necessity nearby.
◦ French and native allies attack.
◦ Militia surrenders and are released to return
home.
Native American Alliances
The French had a big advantage:
Fur trading had created allies.
Natives distrusted British (wanted land).
French had converted natives to Catholicism.
Iroquois Confederacy:
Most powerful group of natives in eastern North
America: Made up of six nations (tribes).
British wanted and alliance (partnership).
Iroquois said no but agreed to stay neutral.
The French and Indian War
(Seven Years War)
Ben Franklin tried to unite the colonies:
Albany Plan of Union (failed)
 Colonial gov’ts would have to give up some power
French had early success:
Captured British forts
Native allies carried out raids:
 Killed colonists
 Burned farms and crops
 Drove families back east
The French and Indian War
(Seven Years War)
 British decided to pay for the war instead of
taxing the colonists (war costs money!)
 But they would tax them later
New Prime Minister, 1757: William Pitt
 Good at military strategy
 Wanted to attack French Canada as well
British brought more troops to colonies
Captured Ft. Duquesne and Quebec, Canada
New British Policies
Treaty of Paris, 1763
 Ended French and Indian War
 Canada and Ohio Valley went to Britain
Proclamation Line of 1763
 Imaginary line that limited the settlement of British
colonists to the west.
 Designed to stop conflict between colonists and natives.
Chief Pontiac
Colonists lost French allies.
British raised prices of goods.
Treaty of Paris 1763
British troops stayed in colonies after the war.
Colonists began to distrust the soldiers.
District Writing Assignment
Make a prediction:
With other members of your district:
 Review what you learned about the French and Indian War and
British polices afterwards.
 On a separate sheet of paper, write a well written paragraph about
how you think the colonists are going to react.
 Tributes: be ready to share your district’s thoughts.