Wars and Battles
The French and Indian War was part of which larger global conflict?
The Seven Years’ War.
Describe one way the outcome of the war affected colonial attitudes toward Britain.
Colonists grew resentful of British taxes and restrictions and felt mistreated by British policies and disregard for colonial political rights, fostering revolutionary sentiment.
Which British officer lost Fort Necessity and earlier failures include the loss of frontier outposts; Fort Duquesne was held by the French (later captured by the British).
George Washington
Which Native American group mostly allied with the French?
Huron, Ojibwa, Chippewa, Mississauga, Potawatomi
Which two European countries fought in the French and Indian War?
Great Britain and France (with Spain entering later as an ally of France).
What was the result of the Battle of Quebec in 1759?
British victory; fall of Quebec (Battle of the Plains of Abraham) turning point
Proclamation of 1763: What did this law do?
It banned colonial settlement west of the Appalachians and reserved those lands for Native Americans, requiring colonists to remain east of the line.
What was the young British officer that started the war by attacking Fort Duquesne?
George Washington (as a young militia officer he led attacks/scouting that escalated conflict around Fort Duquesne).
How did Native American alliances shift during the war?
Some tribes that had allied with France lost their primary European partner after French defeat; some tribes shifted toward accommodation or resistance with the British, and allegiances could change based on local interests.
How did the war contribute to tensions leading to the American Revolution?
War debts led Britain to tax the colonies and enforce trade laws more strictly; colonial frustration over taxation without representation and British military presence grew.
What was the significance of the Battle of Quebec?
Decisive British victory that effectively ended major French military power in Canada and led to British domination of North America.
Name two major results of the Treaty of Paris (1763).
France gave up Canada and lands east of the Mississippi River to Britain; Spain gave up Florida to Britain (France gave Louisiana to Spain).
How did William Pitt influence the British war effort?
He increased funding, sent more troops, focused on global strategy, and prioritized North American campaigns that led to British victories.
Explain why Native American tribes chose different sides during the French and Indian War.
Choices were based on existing trade relationships, rivalries with other tribes, regional interests, past alliances, and which European power seemed to best protect their lands and autonomy.
Treaty of Paris: What was its importance in the French and Indian War?
It formally ended the war and redistributed colonial territories, giving Britain Canada and Florida and marking the end of France as a major North American colonial power.
What military tactic helped the British win control of French Canada?
Siege warfare and large-scale coordinated assaults (combined naval blockade and siege operations), along with capturing key forts and cities (e.g., Quebec).
How did the war impact France’s colonies in North America?
France lost most of its North American possessions (Canada and territories east of the Mississippi), greatly reducing French colonial presence.
Why did Benjamin Franklin create the political cartoon, Join or Die?
It urged colonial unity for defense (initially during the French and Indian War) and later became a symbol for unity during the American Revolution.
What role did Native American alliances play in the war’s outcome?
Alliances provided crucial local knowledge, warriors, and strategic support; they influenced regional successes and failures on both sides.
Albany Plan of Union: What was it, and why was it important?
A 1754 proposal by Benjamin Franklin for a unified colonial government for defense and Indian affairs; important as an early attempt at colonial unity though it was not adopted.
Explain how the French and Indian War set the stage for the American Revolution.
British policies to pay war debt and govern larger empires (taxation, troop presence, trade enforcement) angered colonists; colonial military cooperation and sense of separate identity also grew.
What was the main cause of the French and Indian War?
Competition between Britain and France for control of North American territory, especially the Ohio River Valley and control of trade routes.
Describe George Washington’s role at the start of the war.
As a young Virginia militia officer, he led early expeditions in the Ohio Valley, engaged French forces (including the skirmish at Jumonville Glen) and surrendered at Fort Necessity; his actions helped spark broader conflict.
How were the Natives affected by the Treaty of Paris?
Loss of French allies and trade networks; increased British control of territories led to greater pressure on Native lands and diminished bargaining power.
Explain how the outcome of the French and Indian War affected Spain.
Spain gained Louisiana (west of the Mississippi) from France but ceded Florida to Britain; Spain’s role in North America changed as it gained territory west of the Mississippi while losing Florida.