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The French and Indian War: The reason we speak English
Historical Background and Causes
In 1754 the New World was about to change. After many years of
wars in Europe, and navy battles in and around the New World, the first all
out war was about to be fought there. The Spanish Empire in 1754 was
very weak. Though they still controlled a lot of territory in the New World,
the monarchy was very poor because of losing expensive wars in Europe
to the British. The two most powerful countries left were Britain and
France.
The French mostly controlled what is today eastern Canada, the St.
Lawrence River, the Mississippi River, the Great Lakes and the Ohio River
Valley. The areas along the St. Lawrence and the Ohio River Valley were
the areas with the most furs - - a very valuable resource. The British wished
to control all of North America, especially these French lands.
Earlier in the 1700’s, the British had begun taking French and Spanish
islands in the Caribbean for their sugar crops - - a large war had been
avoided, but the French would not allow the British to take their lands in
Canada. Both sides began to build forts and ship armies from Europe to
the Northeastern North America.
War!
In 1754 both sides wanted to take firm control of the land west of
the Appalachian Mountains. A young officer in the British army named
George Washington(yes, him) had a small army and started the first battle
of the war by attacking a small group of French soldiers in what is today
western Pennsylvania.
Both sides began to recruit Native Americans to join them. At first
many joined the French, because the French had been much nicer to
them over the years. Some French trappers even married Native
American women and lived among them. The British had not been too
bad to the Native Americans, but they had never treated them as equals.
For the first two years of the war, the French defeated the British
armies, but did not gain any new territory. In 1756, the British captured
control of Lake Ontario from the French and won more and more
victories. The British also won control of the upper Ohio River Valley, and
lands along the Atlantic Ocean - - ALSO, they convinced the Native
Americans that had been helping the French to join them because they
were winning, and the Native Americans switched sides.
By 1760 the British had won control of the French fort cities of
Montreal and Quebec, leaving the French no option but to surrender. By
1763 the war was over.
Effects of the War
The largest effect of the war was Britain’s new power in North
America. Great Britain now controlled all of North America east of the
Mississippi River, and all of New France. The English allowed the French to
live in North America, but they were separated from the English settlers.
1.) Why is the title of this article “The reason we speak English”?
2.) Since much of the fighting was in the wilderness, having Native
American friends became important for both sides. Why did the Native
Americans switch sides?
3.) What were the economic causes of the war?