I. The American Revolution (1775-1783)

A. Why did the Americans rebel against British rule?

1. The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

a. Britain and France claimed the same lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.

b. Both sides wanted to use the Ohio River to travel further west.

2. What happened in the French and Indian War?

a. Who fought in the French and Indian War?

1) Britain (including the American colonies) against France with Indian allies.

2) In American, we call it the “French and Indian War” because that is who we fought against.

b. Important battles from the French and Indian War

1) Battle of Fort Necessity (1754) – Virginia militia led by George Washington are defeated in what is today western Pennsylvania; first battle of the French and Indian War

2) Battle of Fort Duquesne (1755) – 1,400 British troops led by General Edward Braddock (with assistance from George Washington) are defeated by the French in what is today western Pennsylvania.

3) Battle of Louisbourg (1758) British forces sent to America by Prime Minister William Pitt, and led by Gen. Jeffrey Amherst and Gen. James Wolfe, capture the port of Louisbourg in Canada; first major victory for the British in the French and Indian War.

4) Battle of Quebec (Battle on the Plains of Abraham) (1759) – British forces led by Gen. James Wolfe captured the French city of Quebec; this battle ended the French and Indian War.

3. What were the results of the French and Indian War?

a. Treaty of Paris 1763 – ended the French and Indian War

1) According to the Treaty of Paris 1763, France lost of it’s colonies in America.

2) Britain owns all land east of the Mississippi River.

3) Spain gained control of all land west of the Mississippi River.

b. Proclamation of 1763

1) created by Parliament (England’s congress)

2) made it illegal for American colonists to settle on land that is west of the Appalachian Mountains.

c. Albany Plan of Union (1753) – created by Benjamin Franklin; this plan would have created one government for all the English colonies; it failed … but the Albany Plan influenced the colonies during the American Revolution.

4. Who cares? Why is French and Indian War important?

a. Wars are expensive.

1) Britain had to raise taxes in the American colonies in order to pay for the cost of the French and Indian War.

2) The American colonists believed that the British government did not have the right to tax them unless they voted on the new tax laws. (remember the Magna Carta???)

b. The French and Indian War led to the American Revolution because the Americans and the British started to argue about the new tax laws created by Parliament.