French+&+Indian+War

Catherine Poirier

Quick facts:

 * ===1754-1763 ===
 * ===Includes the Seven Years' War ===
 * ===French /Iroquois v. England ===
 * ===Expansion  greed causes tension, eventually leading to the American Revolution ===

**Causes:** France and Great Britain were both battling for **world power**. The two empires were hoping to expand even further into the new world, America. France had land in North America, mostly west of the Mississippi and in present day Canada near Indian tribes. Sharing territories between England, France, and the Indians was an uneasy balance. **Trade commissions** between England and Native Americans stopped around the Great Lakes region. France feared that this would cause England and the colonies to expand into their lands. They created fortresses in the **Ohio River Valley**, England took this activity as a sign of invasion and responded by building fortresses in that area as well.The Iroquis were trying to maintain their balance for power, and joined forces with France against England. Tensions escalated into war for __expansional, and commercial regions.__

=Key Events/ Battles: =
 * 1753 - French troops from Canada invade the Ohio valley, while the British claim that land for themselves.
 * 1754 - England sends **George Washington** to the French **Fort[[image:http://www.ambrosevideo.com/resources/documents/119.jpg width="413" height="340" align="right" caption="A map displaying the division of North American land after the French & Indian War."]] Duquesne** to force them out. Washington built a stockade called **Fort Necessity** not too far from that of the French.
 * 1755 - British American General Edward Braddock failed at regaining to lost land of Washington in Fort Necessity.
 * 1756 - The **Seven Years’ War** begins, spreading the conflict to Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
 * 1757 - The following year, a new command takes over the conflict, **William Pitt**; __he began planning strict military strategy for the North American Conflict. Introduced impressment (forced enrollment in the service), forced quartering of soldiers, and the seizure of goods in order to benefit the army --> increase of tensions__
 * 1759 - The **Siege of Quebec** was the final battle, ending the French & Indian War. General James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm died in the siege. The French army officially surrendered about one year after the battle in September 1760.
 * 1763 - Most of William Pitt’s aims were passed in the **Peace of Paris** treaty. __Under this, the French ceded some West Indian Islands, Indian colonies, Canada and all French territory east of the Mississippi to England.__

=The Aftermath: = The French & Indian War was the first event that openly showed and caused **American hostilities towards England**. Throughout the war, Pitt takes a very stern military roll. The things he introduced in the colonies were not well received, **quartering and the seizure of goods** was invasive to colonial life. Also, Great Britain's war debt was so high that parliament declared the colonies must pay more taxes. Parliament reciprocated this by passing **The Stamp Act** without colonial consent. Colonists believed it was unfair that they had to pay for //England's// war. Tensions rose to a greater extent due to this injustice, __it was the start of a long revolutionary process for America's independence__.


 * Sources:**
 * ushistory.org**
 * pbs.org**
 * American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley**