Seven Years War

Seven Years War

EAGLE 2022

Overview

A War By Any Other Name​

The Seven Years’ War, which took place between 1756-1763, was a global conflict that spanned five continents, though it was known in America as the “French and Indian War.”

Multiple Choice

True or False: The Seven Years War and The French and Indian War are the same conflict just known by two different names.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Declaration

After years of skirmishes between England, Spain and France in North America, England officially declared war on France in 1756

Multiple Choice

In what year did England declare war on France?

• 1749

• 1756

• 1776

• 1783

​The Two Warfronts

​Frederick the Great

While the French, British, and Spanish battled over colonies in the New World, Frederick the Great of Prussia in Europe faced off against troops from Austria, France, Russia and Sweden.

Multiple Choice

Frederick the Great was the ruler of which country?

• Prussia

• France

• Russia

• Sweden

French/Indian War

​The Battleground

By the 1750s, the French had largely claimed Canada and the Great Lakes, while Great Britain clung to their 13 colonies on the Atlantic seaboard. The frontier area around the upper Ohio River Valley soon became a hotbed of contention between British, French and Native American forces, with the Europeans eager to settle the area over their rivals.

Multiple Choice

Which river valley served as a frequent battleground during the French & Indian War?

• Ohio

• Mississippi

• Virginia

• Chesapeake

French Forts

• Recall that the French had set up forts all along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as they explored, charted the territory, and traded with Native Americans in the region.

  • These forts blocked the British colonists from expanding west, and it prevented the British from engaging in the lucrative fur trade.​

• The combination of French forts and Native American alliances resulted in many early losses for the British forces.​

​

​French Fort Duquesne -->

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT an advantage that the French had over the British?

• Forts

• Native American allies

• Knowledge of the land

• Financial resources

​A Future Hero Emerges

​The war was officially sparked when 22-year-old George Washington was sent by the governor of Virginia as an envoy to the French, warning them to stay away from the area around today’s Pittsburgh.

​

The French refused, and on the way home from his failed mission, Washington’s men became embroiled in a skirmish with a French encampment, where French ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville was killed. 

​George Washington

Multiple Choice

This envoy to the French from the Virginia colony was involved in the "spark" of the French and Indian War

• Benjamin Franklin

• Frederick the Great

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

Fort Necessity

​Washington ordered the construction of the aptly-named Fort Necessity.

​

The Battle of Fort Necessity on July 3, 1754 (also known as the Battle of Great Meadows) resulted in Washington’s first and only surrender.

​

Washington would soon be followed in defeat by General Edward Braddock and Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts, both of whom failed to stop the French.

Multiple Choice

True or False: The Battle of Fort Necessity resulted in surrender by the French troops.

• True

• False

William Pitt

• In 1756, Britain's William Pitt began strategically financing Prussia’s army as it took on France and its allies.

  • Pitt also reimbursed the colonies for raising armies to beat back the French in North America.​

• ​Pitt’s gambit worked!

  • The first British victory at Louisburg in July of 1758 revived the sagging spirits of the army. ​

  • ​They soon took Fort Frontenac from the French.

• In September of 1758, General John Forbes captured Fort Duquesne and rebuilt a British fort called Fort Pitt in its place in honor of William Pitt.

Multiple Choice

What was William Pitt's strategy for defeating the French?

• Use guerilla warfare tactics

• Invest money in building more forts than the French

• Invest money in the Prussian army against the French

• Reinforce their naval fleet to attack the French by sea

Northern Victories

British forces marched to Quebec, beating French troops in the Battle of Quebec (also known as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham) in September 1759.

​

Montreal fell in September of the following year.

Multiple Choice

Quebec and Montreal are cities in modern-day...

• Alaska

• Canada

• Iceland

• Russia

The War Ends

• The British were awarded Canada, Louisiana and Florida (from Spain), thereby removing European rivals & opening up North America for Westward expansion.

• The British victory earned England a reputation as a world power with a strong navy, a reputation they would use to continue their empire-building efforts around the globe.

• The British had also incurred significant debt in the lengthy conflict, and would soon look to the colonists to help pay back the war debt through increased taxes.​

• The French loss would later inspire them to side with American colonists against the British during the Revolutionary War.​

Impacts:

• The Treaty of Paris was signed by Britain, France, and Spain on February 10, 1763, officially bringing an end to the French and Indian War.

​Treaty of Paris

Multiple Choice

Which of the following impacts of the British victory in the French/Indian War would have been most influential in sparking the American Revolution?

• The British were awarded Canada, Louisiana and Florida

• The British victory earned England a reputation as a world power with a strong navy

• The British had significant war debt, and increased taxes on colonists to pay off debt

• None of the above were factors

Multiple Choice

Which of these countries was NOT included in the Treaty of Paris?

• France

• Britain

• Prussia

• Spain

Multiple Choice

Which country benefitted most from the Seven Years War -- Britain or France?

• Britain

• France

Open Ended

Explain your answer to the previous question. Why did that country that you selected benefit the most from the war? How do you know?

Sources:

​History --> https://www.history.com/topics/france/seven-years-war

New York Times --> https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/13/books/the-war-to-begin-all-wars.html

Britannica --> https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War/The-treaties-of-peace​

Subject | Subject

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