Prelude to the Revolution: The French and Indian War

1. Prelude to the Revolution: The French and Indian War US History - Libertyville HS

2. Setting the Stage F & I (in America) = 7 Yrs War (in Europe) • F & I war an extension of the 7 Years War in Europe • Big Question: Who will control world trade?

3. French possessions in America West of Appalachians, past Great Lakes and Mississippi River Quebec & Ontario English possessions in America Eastern seaboard, short of Appalachians and Lake Erie Colonists had been in America for 150 years – separate identity forming Not all were even British! (German, Scottish, Dutch) The Sides French Royal Flag, 18th C. British Union Flag, 18th C.

4. What about the Native Americans? • Ohio Valley Indians allied with French • French began building line of forts through Ohio Valley • Cut off English access to fur trade • Also, block English colonists from expanding west

5. What about the Native Americans? • Iroquois were reluctant allies of British • The Iroquois HATED the colonists • BUT . . . they HATED the Ohio Valley Indians more • Some attempted neutrality - lose / lose proposition Indian slaughter of prisoners, 1759

6. Lead up to War • British claimed same lands as French • Sent 15,000 regulars (“Redcoats”) to protect colonists • British also planned seizure of Canada (for the fur trade)

7. Start of War Washington, In VA militia uniform • Young George Washington (21 y.o.) in charge of VA militia (Mom story & Braddock) • Sent to Pittsburgh in 1754 to stop French fort building • French forts: Duquesne & Le Boeuf • GW builds Fort Necessity • Brits send along Iroquois allies (Half-Chief) • Americans ambush French; Iroquois slaughter patrol • French counterattack, defeat Washington – he surrenders • 1755 - General Braddock ambushed, killed = WAR!

8. Indians, During the War • Ohio Valley Indians kill about 3,500 colonists in raids in first 3 years of war • Colonists HATE the OV indians • 1760 – flag of truce for trade • Indians ask for blankets • Jeffrey Amherst: traded blankets infected with smallpox • OV Indians devastated by disease that winter – never recover Ohio River Valley

9. Results of War • English win on ALL fronts • 1760: Fighting in Europe ends • British send 60,000 more troops to America, Canada • Push French out of Quebec, West across Mississippi Death of British General Wolfe outside Quebec

10. Nationwide 2.3 million whites and blacks 90% Americans are farmers 4 major cities (shipping) New York City (28,000) Boston, MA (32,000) Philadelphia, PA (30,000) Charleston, SC (10,000) Demographics of America, 1763 Boston New York Philadelphia Charleston

11. Demographics of America, 1763 • Between 1760 and 1775, 225,000 immigrants arrive in America • Majority NOT English • Most German, Irish (+ Scots-Irish, post Culloden) • Military tradition very strong in these groups

12. Demographics of America, 1763 • Slavery • ½ of population of VA slaves • Mainly tobacco field workers (cotton didn’t become big until 1800s) • 50% of Americans “unfree” at some point in life • Black slave • Indentured servant Slaves on VA Plantation, 1790 Indenture contract, 1739

13. Why Do Demographics matter? • Majority of American population made up of ... • Indentured servants • Scots-Irish • Religious dissenters • Former debtor-prisoners • Germans • Slaves • Loyalty to British? Not really! (Emerging national ID: Protestants that don’t like British nobility / royalty) Immigration groups, 1770

14. Results of War to British, Americans • Treaty of Paris (1763) makes Britain most powerful European country • Threat of Indians, French toward colonists gone • British: colonists must love us! • Colonists: we don’t need British any more…