French and Indian War

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The French and Indian War is the common American name for the decisive nine-year conflict (1754–1763) in North America between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its North American Colonies against France and its North American Colonies, which was one of the theatres of the Seven Years' War. The war resulted in France's loss of all its possessions in North America, except for some Caribbean islands and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, two small islands off Newfoundland. The British acquired Canada, while Spain gained Louisiana in compensation for its loss of Florida to the British.

1 Nomenclature
2 Series of North American conflicts, 17th century-18th century
3 Causes
4 Overview
5 Outcome
- 5.1 Immediate
- 5.2 Long term
6 Trivia
7 List of battles and expeditions
8 Further reading
9 See also
10 External links

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Nomenclature

Although scholars, such as Fred Anderson, generally refer to all facets of the conflict as the Seven Years' War, the conflict is popularly referred to as the French and Indian War in the United States, as it is seen from the perspective of British American forces fighting against French forces and their Algonquin and Huron allies in North America. (British and British American forces had allied with the Iroquois.) In Britain and Canada, the designation French and Indian War is nearly unknown: English Canadians and the British typically refer to the war as the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), dating the war not from the start of actual fighting in North America, but rather from the official declaration of war in Europe. French Canadians refer to it both as la Guerre de sept ans and the Guerre de la conquête (War of the Conquest), since it is the war in which Canada was conquered by the British and became part of the British Empire. In Britain, it is simply regarded as the most important theatre of the Seven Years' War.

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Series of North American conflicts, 17th century-18th century

The French and Indian War was the last of four major colonial wars (sometimes called, somewhat confusingly, French and Indian Wars) between the British, the French, and their Indian allies, following the conflicts known in North America as King William's War (1689-1697), Queen Anne's War (1702-1714), and King George's War (1744-1748). The preceding wars, fought more as secondary theatres to European conflicts, resulted in little territorial change.

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Causes

There are many reasons for the French and Indian War. The British colonies claimed all land that was west of them. This land between the Appalachians and the Mississippi river was also claimed by the French with their trading outposts (they began to construct forts just prior to the war, however). In actuality, the land was inhabited by Native Americans. Both European countries wanted to control the fur trade with the Native Americans. Britain was largely Protestant while France remained Roman Catholic. Newfoundland had very fertile fishing grounds coveted by both sides.

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Overview

The French and Indian War, unlike the others, began on North American soil and then spread to Europe, where Britain and France continued fighting. Britain officially declared war on France in 1756, marking the beginnings of the Seven Years' War in Europe. Native Americans fought for both sides but primarily alongside the French. The first major event was in 1754. Major George Washington, then twenty-one years of age, was sent to negotiate boundaries with the French, who did not give up their forts. Washington led a group of Virginian (colonial) troops to confront the French at Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh). Washington stumbled upon the French, and in the ensuing skirmish, a French Officer (de Jumonville) was killed, news of which would certainly provoke a strong French response. Washington pulled back a few miles and established Fort Necessity. The French forced Washington and his men to retreat. Meanwhile, the Albany Congress was taking place as means to discuss further action.

Edward Braddock led a campaign against the French in 1755; Washington was among the British and Colonial troops. Braddock was used to European tactics: be bold, march around in distinctive red, and fire in lines. The tactic failed miserably at Fort Duquesne. The French and Native Americans, though they were outmanned and outgunned (the British had a heavy cannon), used guerrilla warfare to win the battle. Braddock was killed; Washington, despite four close calls, was not hit by a bullet and led the survivors in a retreat. French victories continued at Fort William Henry and Carillon.

1756 brought with it William Pitt as the leader of Great Britain. His leadership turned the tide in favor of the British. They were victorious at Louisburg, Fort Niagara, and others. In 1759, Battle of the Plains of Abraham gave Quebec to the British, only to be recaptured in the Battle of Sainte-Foy a year later. In September of 1760, Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, the King's Governor of New France, negotiated a surrender with British General Jeffrey Amherst. General Amherst granted Vaudreuil's request that any French residents who chose to remain in the colony would be given freedom to continue worshiping in their Roman Catholic tradition, continued ownership of their property, and the right to remain undisturbed in their homes. The British provided medical treament for the sick and wounded French soldiers and French regular troops were returned to France aboard British ships with an agreement that they were not to serve again in the present war.

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Outcome

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Immediate

The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763. The treaty resulted in France's loss of all its possessions in North America (all of Canada was ceded to Britain) except Saint Pierre and Miquelon, two small islands off Newfoundland. France also kept the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique because of their rich sugar crops and the ease with which it could be controlled. Spain gained Louisiana in compensation for its loss of Florida to the British. One result of the war was that Britain gained control of a strip of territory along the St. Lawrence River that now forms part of the Province of Quebec with appromixately 54,000 French-speaking, Roman Catholic population. Near the beginning of the war, in 1755, the British had expelled French-speaking populations in Acadia to Louisiana, creating the Cajun population, but this would not be repeated in 1763.

The European theater of the war was settled by the Treaty of Hubertusburg on February 15, 1763.

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Long term

The decisive result of the war meant that it was the last of the French and Indian Wars and helped create conditions that led to the American Revolutionary War. Perhaps the most immediately apparent outcome of the war was the end of France’s power in the Americas for a long time, having only four islands left to them. Another important consequence is that the British colonists felt empowered having defended their own land in addition to obtaining more. They felt as if all the land from the Atlantic to the Mississippi was their's to live on. However, Britain disallowed the colonists from living on that land by the British Royal Proclamation of 1763.

Also, the Albany Congress was the first time the colonists from multiple colonies had officially met for any reason. The thoughts of unity were starting to make their appearance, eventually leading to the Revolutionary War. At the same time, George Washington was gaining experience, learning British tactics and their weaknesses.

Britain was fighting wars in Europe and the Americas simultaneously, and this put them into fiscal straits. Great expenses associated, at the time, with shipping infantry, artillery, and supplies across the ocean. Such, Britain would turn to the economic theory of Mercantilism and begin to tax the colonies heavily. This created more tension and dissention between the colonies and the mother country. In conclusion the colonies had to pay for this war.

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Trivia

The Battle of Fort Necessity, one of the opening engagements of the war, marked the first and only instance of George Washington surrendering in battle.

Fort Ticonderoga was built by the French after a battle near Lake George, New York.

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