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Background Information
The French and the British both want the Ohio River Valley. The French want if for fur trade and trade in general. The British want it for trade and they want it because their population is growing and they need more land for their people. -
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French and Indian War Timeline
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1753-1763
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George Washington departs for the Ohio River Valley
21 year old George Washington departs from Williamsburg, Virginia for the Ohio River Valley. Virginia's governor Robert Dinwiddie sends him to to order the French to abandon the string of forts they are building between Lake Erie and the forks of the Ohio River. -
Message Rejected
George Washington delivers the letter to Captain Legardeur de Saint-Pierre at Fort Lebeouf. He rejects the letter and George Washington heads back to Williamsburg a few days later. -
Washington defeats French
George Washington, having returned to the Ohio River Valley with Virginian troops, defeats French soldiers in a surprise attack near the Great Meadows. After this battle, British Indian allies, led by Seneca Chief Tanaghrisson, attack the French, killing the French commander. -
Albany Congress
The British government calls a meeting of colonial leaders. They want the colonies to agree to cooperate in defending themselves against the French. They also hope to form an alliance with the Iroquois, but the Iroquois refuse to make an alliance. Ben Franklin makes a picture of a snake chopped into pieces that says "Join, or Die." Franklin draws up a plan called the Albany Plan of Union. The Albany Congress approves Franklin's plan, but the colonial assemblies rejects it. -
Washington Surrenders
A French force of 700 soldiers attacks Washington and his troops at Fort Necessity in retaliation for the suprise attack near the Great Meadows. George Washington is forced to surrender and leave the Ohio River Valley. Washington is blamed for this and resigns, but will later return as a volunteer under British authority. -
Battle of the Wilderness
The British government sends Major General Edward Braddock and a force of 1,300 British and colonial troops to Fort Duquesne. Braddock does not understand anything about fighting in North America. He doesn't listen to the warnings that soldiers marching down a narrow road in red uniforms are a perfect target for opposing armies. The French and their Native American allies ambush them and more than half of Braddock's men are killed or wounded, with Braddock among the dead. -
Indians Abandon British
William Johnson, the Superintent of Indian Affairs for the northern colonies, defeats the British at the Battle of Lake George. The Mohawks abandon their alliance with the British and are now neutral. -
Seven Years War
France and Britain officially declare war against one another. Austria, Sweden, and Russia are allies with France as Prussia sides with Britain -
Fort Oswego
French forces, under newly appointed commander of all French forces in North America, captures Fort Oswego. This strengthsens French's control over the Great Lakes. -
William Pitt
William Pitt becomes prime minister. He names 30 year old James Wolfe as one of Britain's top generals. With Pitt as prime minister he will commit the British government of whatever resources are needed to defeat the French. He will also authorize the raising of 23,000 troops in North America. -
Fort William Henry
French General Montcalm forces the British to surrender after a six day siege. Despite Montcalm guaranteeing safe passage, British troops get attacked by France's Indian allies. More than 150 troops are killed and 500 troops are taken captive. -
British capture Louisburg
The British troops under generals James Wolfe and Jeffrey Amherst capture Louisburg, a French port on Nova Scotia. It is very important for the British to capture Louisburg because it cut off French reinforcements and it allowed the British to sail down the the St. Lawrence River to Quebec, the last real French stronghold in North America. -
Fort Duquesne
The French abandon and destroy Fort Duquesne. The British take over and rename it Fort Pitt, after William Pitt. -
British take over Quebec
The capital of New France is Quebec, which is located on a high cliff that overlooks the St. Lawrence River. The French are led by General Montcalm, while James Wolfe leads the British attack. The British make little progress at first. At night they find an unguarded path that lets them get into the city. The 4,000 British soldiers defeat the 4,500 French soldiers in front of the city. There are more than 2,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the battle, including Wolfe and Montcalm. -
British takes Montreal
Governor-General Vaudreuil of New France surrenders Montreal, the last French stronghold in North America. This ends the fighting between France and Britain in North America, but they are still fighting throughout the world. -
WAR OVER
The Spanish, French, and British sign the Treaty of Paris. All French possessions east of the Mississippi, except New Orleans, are given to the British. All French possessions west of the Mississippi are given to the Spanish. France regains Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Lucia. -
Proclamation of 1763
One result of the French and Indian War is the Proclamation of 1763. Britain is already in a great deal of debt so they want to avoid future wars with Native Americans. The proclamation bans settlers from settling west of a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. -
Taxes
After the war the colonists think Britain should be grateful to them for helping them fight the war. However, Britain is in a great deal of debt and starts imposing taxes on the colonists. These taxes include the sugar act, the quartering act, and the stamp act.
