The Seven Years' War part 2

Summary

The Seven Year's War, also known as the French and Indian War, was a global conflict that determined the world's dominant empire between England and France. In North America, both sides fought over territories, particularly in the Ohio River Valley. Despite initial setbacks, including George Washington's surrender at Fort Necessity, the British eventually triumphed after Prime Minister William Pitt committed significant resources. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 solidified Britain's status as a world power, but also led to increased tensions with the American colonies due to new taxes, ultimately contributing to the American Revolution.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Seven Year's War, also known as the French and Indian War, was the first global war and was fought to determine the dominant empire: England or France.
• 🏰 In North America, the conflict was over territory, particularly along the Appalachian mountain range, with England, France, and Native American tribes involved.
• 🔨 The British were particularly concerned about the French presence in the Ohio River Valley and sent George Washington to build a fort to establish their claim.
• ⚔️ George Washington's initial efforts in the Ohio River Valley resulted in a defeat and the establishment of Fort Necessity after being forced to surrender to the French.
• 🏹 The British faced further setbacks in 1755 when Major General Edward Braddock was killed, and Washington had to lead a retreat after another failed attempt to take Fort Duquesne.
• 🏡 The British managed to gain control of Acadia, displacing the French settlers who became known as Cajuns after being relocated to Louisiana.
• 💰 The war turned in favor of the British after 1757 when Prime Minister William Pitt committed significant resources to expel the French from North America.
• 🏰 By 1760, the British had captured key territories including Fort Duquesne, the Ohio Valley, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, effectively ending the fighting in North America.
• 📜 The Treaty of Paris in 1763 marked a significant victory for the British, who gained control of New France (Canada), Spanish Florida, and several Caribbean islands, solidifying their status as a global power.
• 🏛️ The war had mixed consequences for the American colonists who, despite the victory, faced new taxes imposed by the British to recoup the costs of the war, which eventually led to revolutionary sentiments.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Seven Year's War in the context of global conflicts?

The Seven Year's War is significant as it was the first global war, occurring more than 150 years before World War I. It was a conflict that determined which empire, England or France, would be the dominant power in the world.

Why is the term 'Seven Year's War' considered a better name for the conflict in North America compared to 'French and Indian War'?

The term 'Seven Year's War' is considered a better name because it highlights the global nature of the conflict, which spanned multiple continents and was not just confined to North America.

What were the main territories in North America that England, France, and their Native American allies were vying for during the war?

The main territories in contention were those along the Appalachian mountain range, particularly in upstate New York and Canada, which served as the border between English settlements and Indian country to the west.

Why was the Ohio River Valley a point of contention between the British and the French during the war?

The Ohio River Valley was a point of contention because both the British and the French had laid claims to this territory and were eager to strengthen their territorial claims by building forts and demonstrating possession.

Who was sent by the English to establish a presence in the Ohio River Valley, and what was the outcome of his initial encounter?

A young officer named George Washington was sent to build a fort in the Ohio River Valley. He and his men encountered French forces and their Native American allies at Fort Duquesne, leading to the establishment of Fort Necessity after being overpowered.

What was the outcome of the British attempt to displace the French from Fort Duquesne in 1755, and what was the fate of Major General Edward Braddock?

The British attempt to displace the French from Fort Duquesne in 1755 was a disaster, resulting in a defeat with a much smaller French force. Major General Edward Braddock was killed in the battle.

How did the British manage to turn the tide of the war in their favor after 1757?

The British turned the tide of the war in their favor after 1757 due to Prime Minister William Pitt's decision to commit significant resources, including men, materials, money, and Indian allies, to the conflict.

What were the major territorial gains for the British by 1760 as a result of the Seven Year's War?

By 1760, the British had captured Fort Duquesne, the Ohio Valley, Nova Scotia, upstate New York, and Quebec, effectively forcing the French out of the eastern seaboard and Canada.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, and how did it impact the British and French empires?

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 resulted in a significant victory for the British, who gained most of France's possessions in the New World, including New France (Canada), Spanish Florida, and several Sugar Islands in the Caribbean. England was recognized as the premiere imperial power in the world.

How did the Seven Year's War affect the relationship between the British and their North American colonists, particularly in terms of taxation?

The war left England in significant debt, leading them to seek revenue from their North American colonists, who were accustomed to a policy of benign neglect. This imposition of taxes sparked outrage and contributed to the growing tensions that eventually led to the American Revolution.

What was the Proclamation of 1763, and how did it affect Native Americans?

The Proclamation of 1763 was a British policy that established a boundary line along the Appalachian Mountains, reserving lands to the west for Native Americans. However, American white settlers largely ignored this boundary, leading to continued westward expansion and further displacement of Native Americans.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Prelude to the Seven Year's War in North America

The video script discusses the Seven Year's War, also known as the French and Indian War, focusing on its global implications and the struggle for dominance between England and France. The war's North American theater involved territorial disputes along the Appalachian mountain range, with both English and French forces, along with their Native American allies, vying for control. The script highlights the early failures of the British, including George Washington's initial defeat at Fort Necessity and the subsequent death of Major General Edward Braddock. It also mentions the British success in Acadia, leading to the displacement of French settlers who would later become known as Cajuns. The narrative sets the stage for the war's progression and its eventual consequences for North America.

05:02

🌟 Turning the Tide: The British Ascendancy in the War

The script details the turning point of the Seven Year's War in 1757, when British Prime Minister William Pitt committed significant resources to the conflict, leading to a series of British victories. Between 1757 and 1760, the British captured key territories including Fort Duquesne, the Ohio Valley, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, effectively pushing the French out of the eastern seaboard and Canada. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 solidified the British victory, with England gaining control over New France (Canada), Spanish Florida, and several Caribbean islands, establishing itself as the preeminent global power. The script also notes the positive impact on the colonial Americans, who fought alongside the British and experienced a boost in confidence, but it foreshadows the negative consequences for Native Americans, who lost the strategic advantage of having two competing empires in North America.

10:02

💸 The Aftermath: Consequences and the Path to Revolution

The final paragraph of the script addresses the aftermath of the Seven Year's War, focusing on the financial burden it placed on England and the subsequent impact on its North American colonies. With England in significant debt, the British government sought to recoup losses by imposing new taxes on the colonists, who had previously enjoyed a degree of autonomy. This shift in policy led to outrage among the colonists, who were unaccustomed to such direct control and taxation from the British Empire. The resentment towards these new taxes would be a catalyst for the American Revolution, as the colonists' pushback against British authority intensified. The script concludes by highlighting the broader implications of the war, including the decline in Native American influence and the growing unity among colonists in their resistance to British rule.

Keywords

💡Seven Year's War

The Seven Year's War was a global conflict that took place from 1756 to 1763, involving most of the major European powers. It was significant as it was one of the first truly global wars, with battles fought in Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines. In the context of the video, the war was pivotal in determining the balance of power in North America, with England and France vying for control over territories. The war's outcome had a profound impact on the future of the United States, as it led to England's dominance in North America and set the stage for subsequent conflicts and the eventual American Revolution.

💡French and Indian War

The French and Indian War is the North American theater of the Seven Year's War, primarily fought between the French and the British, along with their respective Native American allies. The term 'French and Indian' highlights the involvement of Native American tribes in the conflict, which was a significant aspect of the war. The video script discusses how this conflict was part of a larger global struggle and how it was eventually overshadowed by the broader scope of the Seven Year's War.

💡Appalachian mountain range

The Appalachian mountain range is a system of mountains in eastern North America, extending from central Alabama in the U.S. to the Canadian Maritimes. In the video, the Appalachians are mentioned as a significant geographical feature, marking the border between English settlements and the western territories claimed by both the French and the English. The control over lands along this range was a key point of contention during the Seven Year's War.

💡George Washington

George Washington is a central figure in American history, best known as the first President of the United States. In the context of the video, he is introduced as a young officer sent by the British to establish a presence in the Ohio River Valley. His early military experiences, including the construction of Fort Necessity and his eventual surrender to the French, are highlighted as formative events that contributed to his later leadership during the American Revolution.

💡Fort Duquesne

Fort Duquesne was a French fort located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers, which is present-day Pittsburgh. The video script describes how control over this strategic location was a key objective for both the French and the British during the war. The British, including George Washington, attempted to capture the fort, which led to significant military engagements and was a turning point in the conflict.

💡Edward Braddock

Major General Edward Braddock was a British officer who led an expedition to capture Fort Duquesne in 1755. His mission, as mentioned in the video, ended in disaster with his death and the defeat of his forces by the French and their Native American allies. Braddock's failure is noted as a significant setback for the British in the early stages of the war.

💡Acadia

Acadia was a French colony in northeastern North America, comprising parts of present-day eastern Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and Maine. The video script discusses how the British managed to gain control of Acadia during the Seven Year's War, leading to the expulsion of French settlers, known as Acadians. These settlers were relocated to Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns, illustrating the demographic shifts caused by the war.

💡William Pitt

William Pitt, also known as William Pitt the Elder, was a British statesman who served as Prime Minister during the Seven Year's War. The video highlights his decision to commit significant resources to the war effort, which ultimately led to the British success in North America. His strategy and financial commitment were instrumental in turning the tide of the war in favor of the British.

💡Treaty of Paris (1763)

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 marked the end of the Seven Year's War, with the signing of the treaty solidifying British victories and territorial gains. The video script explains how this treaty resulted in England acquiring most of France's North American territories, including New France (Canada) and Spanish Florida, significantly expanding the British Empire and establishing it as the dominant power in Europe and the world.

💡Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was a British colonial policy issued after the Seven Year's War, which established the boundary line along the Appalachian Mountains, reserving lands to the west for Native Americans. The video script notes that this proclamation was largely ignored by American settlers, leading to continued westward expansion and tensions with Native Americans. This policy is an example of the British attempts to manage their newly acquired territories and the conflicts that arose from it.

💡Taxation without representation

Taxation without representation was a rallying cry for American colonists who opposed British taxes levied on them without their consent, as they had no representation in the British Parliament. The video script connects the heavy debt incurred by Britain after the Seven Year's War to the imposition of taxes on the colonies, which was a significant factor leading to the American Revolution. This concept is central to understanding the growing discontent among the colonists and their eventual push for independence.

Highlights

The Seven Year's War was the first global war, predating World War I by over 150 years.

The war's core was a struggle between England and France for global dominance.

In North America, the conflict was also known as the French and Indian War.

Territorial disputes were focused along the Appalachian mountain range in upstate New York and Canada.

The British were particularly concerned with the French presence in the Ohio River Valley.

George Washington was sent to build a fort in the Ohio River Valley at the age of 22.

Washington's initial encounter with the French at Fort Duquesne resulted in the establishment of Fort Necessity.

The British failed to displace the French from Fort Duquesne in 1755, resulting in Major General Edward Braddock's death.

Acadia was the only region where the British successfully gained control and displaced French settlers.

The British declared war on France in 1756, but it wasn't until 1757 that the war turned in their favor.

Prime Minister William Pitt committed significant resources to the war effort, leading to British successes.

By 1760, the British had captured key territories including Fort Duquesne and Quebec.

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 resulted in a significant victory for the British, establishing them as a world power.

The war had a negative impact on Native Americans, as they lost the ability to play off British and French interests against each other.

The Proclamation of 1763 attempted to reserve lands west of the Appalachians for Native Americans, but was largely ignored by settlers.

The war led to increased taxation in the American colonies, which was a contributing factor to the revolution.

Transcripts

- [Narrator] So we've been discussing the Seven Year's War

in North America.

Also commonly called the French and Indian War

but, as I mentioned in the last video

I think Seven Year's War is a better name

for this conflict because

it was the first global war

that happened more than 150 years

before World War I.

And this global war was

at its heart,

about who would be the dominant empire in the world.

Would it be England?

Or would it be France?

Now in the North American theater of this war,

England, France, their Native American allies

on both sides were vying for territory

and particularly territory along the

Appalachian mountain range

in upstate New York, Canada.

This kind of western territory that was

the border between

the English settlement and Indian country to the west.

In this video, let's talk about how the war

actually progressed

and what it's consequences were

for North America and later,

the United States.

All right, so we've got the English,

the French, and

a number of Native American tribes

all kind of jostling for position in North America.

Now what stresses the British out the most

is

the presence of the French

in the Ohio River Valley.

Both, the British and the French

have laid claim to this territory.

And they're both eager to strengthen their territorial

claims, by building forts,

and otherwise having a show of possession of the area.

They argue over who had a presence there first.

So to establish the English presence

in the Ohio River Valley

the English send a young officer

named George Washington

to build a fort.

George Washington is only

22 years old at the time.

And he and his men go out

to

this area and they run into some French with their

Native American allies

at Fort Duquesne

which is where the Alaganee,

Monhongahela, and Ohio rivers come together.

Which is today, Pittsburgh.

So George Washington and his allies

get the jump on the French.

But, that doesn't last very long.

They're overpowered and

they fall back and establish

Fort Necessity.

On account of it was necessary.

And they managed to hold out for a little while

but eventually the French, the Canadians, and their

Native America allies

forced Washington to surrender.

And he goes back to Virginia.

So that's 1754.

And we'll call that Fail number one.

All right, so then

a year later

1755, the British

try to displace the French from

Fort Duquesne once again.

And they send Major General Edward Braddock

with

George Washington, once again,

now he's 23.

Back to Fort Duquesne

and it's a complete disaster.

This time, the French and their Indian allies

get the drop on the English, and with

a much smaller force, completely

desinate the English troops.

And Braddock is killed.

And George Washington

has to take command

of the retreat.

So that's Fail number two.

In general, this war does not go terribly well

for the British at the beginning,

except in one area, Acadia, where

the British manage to

attain control

and they kick out the

French settlers,

the Acadians, who are transported

down to the French settlement of New Orleans.

In Louisiana.

Where eventually, their name becomes garbled

and they're known as the Cajuns.

Not the Acadians, but the Cajuns.

In 1756

England finally gets around to actually declaring

war on France.

But it's really not for another year

that the war starts to actually go well

in 1757.

And the reason that the war starts going well

for the English, finally,

is that the Prime Minister, William Pitt,

decides that he is going to

pour money into this endeavor.

So he thinks that the English have just not had

enough men, materials, money,

Indian allies, up until this point.

So he is really going to

commit the British empire

to

exiling the French from this area

of North America.

So between 1757 and 1760,

things really start looking up for the British.

They finally capture

Fort Duquesne.

And they capture

the Ohio Valley.

Nova Scotia.

Upstate New York.

And, Quebec.

So, by 1760

pretty much all the fighting is done in North America.

The English have more or less forced

the French

out of the eastern seaboard and Canada.

And in 1763,

the English and the French

sit down to hammer out

the Treaty of Paris.

So the Treaty of Paris, in 1763,

and I apologize, I cannot help the fact

that there are like a million treaties of Paris.

There's also the Treaty of Paris that ended the

Revolutionary War.

There's the Treaty of Paris that ended the

Spanish American War.

Paris was the place where you made treaties

and they're all called the Treaty of Paris.

But this is the one that happened in 1763.

In general, this was a big victory.

For the English.

The English

not only got

most of France's possessions

in the New World.

They got New France,

AKA Canada.

They got

Spanish Florida.

Spain was fighting on the side of

France.

So they lose that.

They got a bunch of Sugar Islands.

In the Caribbean.

And they pretty much

got recognized as

the premiere power in Europe.

And the premiere imperial power.

So, the largest and

most powerful empire

in the world.

And let's not forget that the colonial Americans

citizens of Massachusetts, and New York,

Pennsylvania, Virginia,

they were on the winning side here.

They fought alongside the British regulars.

They repelled the French and their Native American allies.

This was actually a pretty big confidence boost

for

young America.

But there were some other consequences of this war.

On the not so good side,

the Seven Year's War was not particularly good

for Native Americans, in general.

Both those who had allied with the British.

And those who had allied with the French.

They no longer had

two imperial powers

vying against each other in North America

that they could play off of each other.

Now, Native Americans were only dealing

with the British.

Who certainly were not giving them

a fair seat at the table.

Not long after the Seven Year's War,

they will institute what's called

the Proclamation

of 1763.

Which was basically a boundary line

along the Appalachian mountains

saying that that was going to be the

end of white settlement.

That they would reserve

all the lands west

of the Appalachians for Native Americans.

Well, you can imagine how much the

American white settlers respected that.

Which is to say, they completely

ignored this boundary line.

So, the Native Americans will continue to be

pushed farther west.

And to develop more of

what we call a race consciousness.

The idea that they were all in

one big group together

who had to combine forces

to repel English settlement.

The other major outcome of the

Seven Year's War was

taxation.

Remember that William Pitt won

the Seven Year's War

by pouring money into it.

At the end of the Seven Year's War

England is in a lot of debt.

And, they have just gone to a lot of trouble

to protect their North American interests.

Now, as they are looking for ways

to make revenue

to make up the deficit,

the Seven Year's War has placed on them,

they look at their North American colonists

and say, "You should pay your way."

And,

the American colonists, who have been used

to more than century of called salutary,

or benign neglect,

are shocked and outraged

that the British empire is now clamping down on them.

And the colonists reaction to those new taxes

will propel the colonies into revolution.