The French and Indian War: A Turning Point for the Colonies

The Colonies Come of Age Section 4 The French and Indian War Terms and Names New France French colony in North America George Washington Led Virginia troops in first battle of the French and Indian War French and Indian War War that gave the British control of North America William Pitt British leader in the French and Indian War Pontiac Native American leader who fought the British Proclamation of 1763 Law limiting the area of English settlement George Grenville Financial expert who was appointed prime minister of Britain in 1763 Sugar Act Law passed by Parliament to try to raise money Before You Read In the last section, you read about life in the Northern colonies. In this section, you will learn about how Great Britain enlarged its holdings in North America. As You Read Use a time line to take notes on major events in the French and Indian War. RIVALS FOR AN EMPIRE 1. What were two main reasons that the French established colonies in the Americas? (Pages 85–86) Why were the French in North America? France was Great Britain’s rival in North America. New France, France’s colony included eastern Canada, the Great Lakes region, and the Mississippi River valley. Most French settlers were not interested in establishing large, populated colonies in North America. Most French settlers were fur traders or Catholic priests who wanted to convert the Native Americans. Because the French settlers relied on the Native Americans for their fur trade, they established better relations with the Native Americans than the English did. _______________________________ _______________________________ BRITAIN DEFEATS AN OLD ENEMY (Pages 86–88) What caused the French and Indian War? As the French and British empires in North America grew, conflicts arose between the two nations. In 1754, fighting broke out between the British and French over western land around the Ohio River. That year, Virginia troops led by George Washington marched to the Ohio River to Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor. 41 Guided Reading Workbook Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________ Section 4, continued drive out the French. The French and their Native American allies easily defeated the American troops. This battle marked the beginning of the French and Indian War. For the next several years, fighting continued between British and French forces to determine who would rule North America. The French beat the British during much of the early fighting. Then, in 1757, the English king appointed William Pitt to the government. Under Pitt’s leadership, the British began winning battles. The British army’s victories prompted the powerful Iroquois Indians to support them. This agreement gave Britain some Native American allies to balance those of France. In 1759, British forces defeated the French at Quebec. With this victory the British had won the war. The two nations signed a peace treaty signed in 1763. As a result of the Treaty of Paris, France gave up Canada and all of North America east of the Mississippi to Britain. Although Great Britain won the war, it still faced problems. Native Americans did not like British settlers moving west onto their lands. Led by Pontiac, an Ottawa chief, a group of Native Americans attacked British forts. During peace negotiations with the Native Americans, the British gave them blankets infected with small pox. The disease killed many in the group. As a result, the Native Americans surrendered. To prevent further fighting with Native Americans, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763. The proclamation forbid colonists from settling west of an imaginary line along the Appalachian Mountains. Many colonists were angered by the proclamation. They argued that it kept them from settling more land. Colonists ignored the proclamation and continued to settle west of the line. 2. How did Britain’s victory in the war affect its colonial holdings in North America? _______________________________ _______________________________ THE COLONIES AND BRITAIN GROW APART (Pages 88–89) What made the colonists angry at Britain? Great Britain’s financial crisis after the war resulted in new laws that angered the colonists. To crack down on smuggling in Massachusetts, British officials searched the homes of colonial merchants. This practice outraged the merchants. After winning the French and Indian War, Britain left troops in North America to protect the colonists from Native Americans. However, many of the colonists disliked the presence of the troops. These colonists felt that Britain kept the troops there to keep them in line. Maintaining troops in North America only added to Britain’s economic woes. The British had spent a great amount of money to win the French and Indian War. As a result, the nation was heavily in debt. Hoping to lower the debt, King George III chose a financial expert, George Grenville, as Britain’s prime minister. Grenville wanted to raise money from the colonies to help pay off the war debt. His first act was to reduce smuggling or illegal trading—which hurt Britain in lost tax money. In 1764, The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act. The act did three things. It cut the import taxes on foreign-made molasses. This was done with the hope that colonists would pay a lower tax rather than Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor. 42 Guided Reading Workbook Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________ Section 4, continued risk arrest by smuggling. Secondly, it placed a tax on certain imported goods that had not been taxed before. Thirdly, the act strengthened the enforcement of smuggling laws by establishing a new court—known as a vice-admiralty court. In this new court, a single judge—not a jury of sympathetic colonists—decided cases. This meant that accused smugglers faced a greater chance of being found guilty. 3. What made the colonists angry at the British government? _______________________________ _______________________________ Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor. 43 Guided Reading Workbook Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________ Section 4, continued Fill out the charts below as you read about the French and Indian War (1754–1763). Motivations 1. Why did France and Britain 2. Why did the British colonies 3. Why did Native Americans fight in the war? fight? fight? Winners and Losers 4. What did Britain gain as a result of the war? 5. What did Britain lose? 6. What did the colonies gain as a result of the war? 7. What did the colonies lose? 8. What did France lose as a result of the war? 9. What did the war cost Native Americans? Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor. 44 Guided Reading Workbook