The French and Indian War
- 1756-1763
- Great Britain (England) vs. France
- British allies: colonists
- French allies: Indians
- Dispute over land around the Ohio River between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River
- Young George Washington was chosen to lead an army into the valley, but Washington was defeated by a larger French army. Britain sent a stronger army to the colonies for war.
- The colonists needed a plan on how to defeat France. Representatives met in Albany, New York at the "Albany Congress". Benjamin Franklin was there and suggested a plan, the Albany Plan, that suggested the colonists join together but with each colony keeping their own government. They would also have an overall government to solve problems affecting them all. The colonies did NOT accept the plan.
- Britain was losing until 1757 when a new leader came into Parliament, William Pitt. He sent more ships and more soldiers who started capturing French forts.
- 1763 France was ready to make peace. Britain and France signed the Treaty of Paris which gave Britain control over most of Canada and most of the land east of the Mississippi River.
- British soldiers stayed after the war; Indians wanted them to leave causing more fighting "Pontiac's Rebellion"
Read more about the French and Indian War
Proclamation of 1763
Complete List and Explanation of all the Tax Acts
The First Continental Congress
- To stop fighting with the Indians, Britain made a proclamation saying that the colonies could not settle west of the Appalachians. Britain recognized this as Indian land.
- Colonists were upset about this because they wanted to settle in the Ohio River Valley to farm.
- Colonists also wanted British soldiers to leave.
- Great Britain needed to replenish the money and resources they spent fighting the French and Indian War.
- They felt the colonies should be the source of the replenishment since that was the location of the war.
- The colonies had no voice in any decisions Parliament was making regarding the colonies.
Complete List and Explanation of all the Tax Acts
The First Continental Congress
- A meeting with representatives from each colony (except Georgia) to discuss the taxes.
- September 5, 1774 at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Delegates wrote a letter to King George III and Parliament saying
- 1) the colonists should have the same freedoms as other British citizens,
- 2) asked King and Parliament to stop taxing the colonists without their agreement, and
- 3) to repeal the Intolerable Acts.
- Delegates agreed to meet in May if the king refused
- Colonists started training for battle in case war started
- King George III declared colonies had begun a rebellion
The Olive Branch Petition
- The delegates at the Second Continental Congress did not want to go to war with Britain. They did want to be treated fairly. They decided to make another attempt with the king for peace. The sent a petition asking King George III to end the conflict with the colonies.
- The king did not read the petition.
- The king sent more soldiers.
- An olive branch is a symbol for peace.