The year is 1754. The American colonies, now prosperous from the tobacco trade, are flourishing in their new found wealth; their dream of a better life finally within reach. But all was not perfect. The French, long since in the new world, were causing strife through out the colonies. What would start as a simple encroachment of land would lead to a war that would scale four continents and forever shift power to the British. The French Indian war had many causes, and led to many effects that would later play a role in not only the forming of America, but also the sources of the American Revolution.
The French Indian war is often described as being caused by many different factors. At one level, this conflict started in what is commonly described as the fork of Ohio, with the building of a French fort, Fort Duquesne, in land that was disputed by the British and the French. This land of the Ohio River Valley, being extremely fertile, was highly desired by the colonists, who wanted to use this land for farming and other industries. The French, also wanting this land for their own, objected to the colonists as well as the British retaining it. As more and more of these encroachments happened, tempers raged high for both the British and the French. The French, who had arrived in the new world shortly after the British, used this land for trading between them and the Indians. The British also trying to be a part of this trade, were not happy with the French stealing their business. The Indians, also no friend of the British, were upset over the loss of their lands as a result of the growth of tobacco plantations and other settlings along their land. When the time for war came, the French, knowing they were greatly outnumbered, turned to the Indians for assistance in order to fight the oncoming British soldiers. There simply wasn’t enough space in this land for these two nations. So, each country, refusing to back down, went to war.
The French Indian war had huge effects on not just the Americas, but also the world. One such effect was the cementation of power for the British. This conflict truly proved to the world that England was the supreme military power, with an unstoppable army as well as a legendary navy to call to arms. It also caused a loss of French influence in North America during this time, the French being shipped out after the war, their colonies lost to the British. Another important effect was the toll this war took on the British economy. The French Indian war nearly caused the British to become bankrupt, the finances of war sending Britain into a spiral of debt. To try to lower the debt, the parliament decided to tax the colonists, claiming that they owed the British for protecting their land. As a result, acts like the sugar act, staples act, currency act, Quebec act, proclamation act and navigation acts were put into place. These acts would later be known as the Intolerable Acts, because of the outrage the colonists, who had fought long and hard for their own freedom, had for being forced to pay for the war.
The French and Indian, made up of many causes, had vast effects on the colonies, as well as the world. This war truly changed the scene, causing a permanent switch of power in Europe. As well as this, the French Indian war also is credited with starting many of the origins of the American Revolution. Actions taken during the French Indian War would come to directly effect actions taken in the American Revolution, creating allies and enemies in the Revolution to come.
The French Indian war is often described as being caused by many different factors. At one level, this conflict started in what is commonly described as the fork of Ohio, with the building of a French fort, Fort Duquesne, in land that was disputed by the British and the French. This land of the Ohio River Valley, being extremely fertile, was highly desired by the colonists, who wanted to use this land for farming and other industries. The French, also wanting this land for their own, objected to the colonists as well as the British retaining it. As more and more of these encroachments happened, tempers raged high for both the British and the French. The French, who had arrived in the new world shortly after the British, used this land for trading between them and the Indians. The British also trying to be a part of this trade, were not happy with the French stealing their business. The Indians, also no friend of the British, were upset over the loss of their lands as a result of the growth of tobacco plantations and other settlings along their land. When the time for war came, the French, knowing they were greatly outnumbered, turned to the Indians for assistance in order to fight the oncoming British soldiers. There simply wasn’t enough space in this land for these two nations. So, each country, refusing to back down, went to war.
The French Indian war had huge effects on not just the Americas, but also the world. One such effect was the cementation of power for the British. This conflict truly proved to the world that England was the supreme military power, with an unstoppable army as well as a legendary navy to call to arms. It also caused a loss of French influence in North America during this time, the French being shipped out after the war, their colonies lost to the British. Another important effect was the toll this war took on the British economy. The French Indian war nearly caused the British to become bankrupt, the finances of war sending Britain into a spiral of debt. To try to lower the debt, the parliament decided to tax the colonists, claiming that they owed the British for protecting their land. As a result, acts like the sugar act, staples act, currency act, Quebec act, proclamation act and navigation acts were put into place. These acts would later be known as the Intolerable Acts, because of the outrage the colonists, who had fought long and hard for their own freedom, had for being forced to pay for the war.
The French and Indian, made up of many causes, had vast effects on the colonies, as well as the world. This war truly changed the scene, causing a permanent switch of power in Europe. As well as this, the French Indian war also is credited with starting many of the origins of the American Revolution. Actions taken during the French Indian War would come to directly effect actions taken in the American Revolution, creating allies and enemies in the Revolution to come.