The French and Indian War - War For The Empire

The War For The Empire

Who would control the New World was the question that still needed to be answered? The struggle for North America had many phases. The Dutch lost New Netherland by 1664, the Spanish were chiefly concerned in strengthening themselves in Central and South America, the Swedes lost their foothold in the Delaware River valley to the Dutch when their forts were captured, so by the middle of the 18th century the lines were drawn between the French and the English, as to who would control America.

Both coveted control of the Atlantic fisheries and the western territories of America. It was no comfort to the English as they learned the French were stringing trading posts and forts across the Great Lakes region and were befriending the Indians by keeping them well supplied, persuading them to attack and destroy the English settlements in the west.

These things set the stage for a great war for the empire, the French and Indian War. The French and Indian War was the American stage of a world-wide, nine-year war between 1754 and 1763.

The Ohio Valley

This Great War for the Empire began over a specific issue, as to whether the upper Ohio Valley was a part of the British Empire or part of the French Empire. But even greater issues were evident, which language, form of government, and social patterns were to dominate the heart of the continent of North America.

Both England and France thought they had rightful claims, due to earlier discoveries in the names of their countries. First, Cabot's discoveries of the North American continent in the later part of the 15th Century, and then in the 17th Century, the English laid claim on all lands from French Canada to and north of Spanish Florida, stretching westward to the Pacific Ocean, through the English royal charter. The French, through La Salle's discoveries and possession of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, said that America belonged to them.

The conflict between the two nations over North America was inevitable. The French sent troops into the upper Ohio Valley to compel Pennsylvania traders to lower the British flag and retreat to the eastern slopes of the Appalachians. Followed by this unsuccessful attempt to rid the English, the French and their Indian allies attached every English-speaking trader or settler they could find, causing much fear among them.

Virginia Gets Involved

Late in 1753 the news reached Virginia that the French were not only driving out English traders and others, but were building forts on the headwaters of the Allegheny, as well. Young George Washington was sent to warn the French that they were occupying the lands that belonged to Virginia, based on earlier land grants.

After this mission failed, Virginia decided to occupy what is now Pittsburg by building a fort where the Allegheny and Mononagahela Rivers joined. George Washington and his troops, sent by Virginia to defend the fort, were overtaken and forced to surrender. This clash between the French and English brought on the Great War for the Empire, which ultimately spread from the Ohio Valley to every part of the world where either of the two nations had territorial interests.

The government of Virginia appealed to the King of England for assistance, asking for troops to be sent to help rid the French from the Ohio Valley. During the first four years of fighting between the French and English, France held the upper hand, dealing many defeats to the British/Colonial troops. It seemed that the French would succeed in enclosing the British colonials to the east of the Appalachian Mountain barrier, sealing their fate to be nothing but an Atlantic seaboard people.

The Man Of The Hour

However, William Pitt, the English prime minister, with great zeal, dedicated himself to bring victory to England and the colonists. He found first class military leaders, such as Generals Amherst, Wolfe, and Forbes; he recruited new regiments of regulars to replace or re-enforce the old shattered ones; he persuaded Parliament to grant him almost unlimited funds; he promised the colonies a liberal reimbursement of their expenses if they would do their part in furnishing soldiers; and finally, every important detail with respect to operations in North America came under his personal direction.

In Pitt's favor were three things that caused him to overwhelm his opponents:

The growing superiority of the British navy, which would cut off troops and supplies to the French in North AmericaBritain's financial state was much greater than that of nearly bankrupt FranceBritish troops and the colonials became seasoned fighters

In time, the tide turned in North America. Amherst captured Louisbourg in 1758, closing the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Fort Frontenas, Fort Duquesne, and Fort Niagara were compelled to surrender; and Wolfe won the Battle of the Heights of Abraham, which led to the fall of Quebec. Montreal surrendered to Amherst in 1760, completing the conquest of Canada.

Although these series of victories did not end the War for the Empire, the French and Indian parts of it was over. With the ratification of the Peace of Paris in 1763, the supreme issue was definitely settled as to whether the English-speaking people or the French-speaking people would assume the chief responsibility for shaping the destinies of the North American continent.

Visit Fred Fishburne's website, The Story of America, where he shares the American story from its beginnings in concise segments at: http://thestoryofamerica.org/.

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