Wars Between BritainFrance in the Colonies

**Collectively know as the “French and Indian Wars” (1689–1763)

**Essentially campaigns in the worldwide struggle for empire

I. King William’s War (War of the League of Ausburg)

  • Dates: 1689-97
  • Contestants: France, N. American Indians, British Alliance,
  • Causes: French seeking more territory
  • Course: -Comte de Frontenac led French forces

in N. America

-Little cooperation amongst English colonies to

stop French

  • Consequences: -Ryswick Treaty

-French continued to build forts along

Mississippi and St. Lawrence rivers

II. Queen Anne’s War (War of Spanish Succession)

  • Dates: 1702-13
  • Contestants:France, Spain, England, N. American Indians
  • Causes:French seeking more territory
  • Course:-England entered late into the conflict in the

colonies (1708)

-England unable to take Quebec (ran out of ammo)

  • Consequences: -Treaty of Utrecht

-England gained control of Eastern Canada,

Gibraltar, West Indies

-France retained control of St. Lawrence

and Great Lakes regions

III. King George’s War (War of Austrian Succession)

  • Dates: 1739-48
  • Contestants:France, Spain, Prussia, England,
  • Causes:naval war between Spain and England
  • Course:Colonists conquered the formidable

French Louisbourg (regarded as the most

secure French position in N.Am.)

  • Consequences:-Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

-Louisbourg territory is returned to French

-England gained territory in India

IV. French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War)

  • Dates: 1754-63
  • Contestants:France, Spain, Britain, and N. American Indians
  • Causes:-began in the New World and spread to Europe

-both the colonists and the French were trying

to settle the Ohio region (French had started

two forts in the region)

-Lt. Col. George Washington cleared the French

close to the territory of the Forks of the

Ohio River

-Washington surrenders at “FortNecessity” after

encountering large force of French and Indians

  • Course:-French use “guerrilla warfare” on British

-British Gen. Braddock defeated at FortDuquesne

-French destroy Fort Oswego & William Henry

-British Gen. James Wolfe captures Louisbourg

-British take FortDuquesne and rename area

“FortPitt”

-British take Quebecafter the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (Commanders Wolfe and Montcalm were both killed)

  • Consequences:

-Treaty of Paris (1763) ends the war in Europe

-French “major power” control in N. America ends

-Britain amasses a huge war debt and felt the American colonies should share the expense

-British troops remain stationed in the colonies to “guard against the Indians”

-With Britain the winner, the colonies were more tolerantly Protestant

-Ottawa Chief Pontiac and various Indian tribes remain hostile to the colonists