French and Indian Wars facts for kids
The French and Indian Wars were a series of big fights in North America. They happened between 1688 and 1763. These wars were often linked to larger wars happening in Europe at the same time. In the United States, when people say "French and Indian War" (singular), they usually mean the last big conflict from 1754 to 1763. This war was part of the Seven Years' War in Europe. Before these wars, there were also the Beaver Wars.
In Quebec, Canada, these wars are often called the Intercolonial Wars. In these conflicts, Great Britain and its colonies, along with their Indigenous friends, fought against France, its colonies, and their Indigenous allies. A main reason for these wars was that both countries wanted to control the middle parts of America. They also wanted the area around Hudson Bay. These places were important for the valuable fur trade.
Contents
Major Conflicts and Their Names
The wars in North America and their related European wars were:
- King William's War (1688–1697): This was also called the War of the Grand Alliance in Europe. It ended with the Treaty of Ryswick.
- Queen Anne's War (1702–1713): In Europe, this was the War of the Spanish Succession. It ended with the Treaty of Utrecht (1713).
- King George's War (1744–1748): This was part of the War of the Austrian Succession in Europe. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) ended it.
- The French and Indian War (1754–1763): This was the biggest one. In Europe, it was called the Seven Years' War. It ended with the Treaty of Paris (1763).
In the United States, these wars are often named after the British king or queen at the time. In Canada, they often use the name of the larger European war or call them the Intercolonial Wars.
As the wars went on, the British started to win more. This was mainly because the British colonies had more people and could make more supplies than the French colonies. Also, the British were better at sending supplies and soldiers by sea. In the first three wars, the French were good at getting help from their Indigenous allies. But in the last war, the British had too many soldiers and resources.
The British won a huge victory. This win actually helped lead to the American Revolutionary War later on. After the French were no longer a threat, the American colonies felt they didn't need British military protection as much. Also, the British tried to stop Americans from settling in the new lands to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was part of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. These disagreements helped cause the American Revolution.
The first three French and Indian Wars usually started in Europe and then spread to North America. Most of the fighting in North America was done by local colonial soldiers. But the last war, the French and Indian War, started in North America first. The British also sent more regular soldiers, not just colonial ones. France lost almost all its land in North America, including what is now Canada and a huge area called Louisiane. After the British victory, France's empire in the New World was much smaller. They only kept a few islands like Saint Pierre and Miquelon, some Caribbean islands, and French Guiana.
How They Fought
Why They Fought for Certain Areas
Both sides wanted to control the main ways people traveled and traded. This included sea routes to Europe, land routes between colonies, and especially the fur trade routes. These routes were usually along lakes and rivers, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. Many Native American nations lived near these routes. Because of this, they got involved in the wars between the European powers. Both the French and British built forts at important travel spots. They asked local Native people to help defend these forts and attack enemy ones.
European Fighting Styles
Some people used to think that European fighting methods didn't work well in American forests. They thought colonists invented new ways of fighting, like using cover and ambushes, inspired by Indigenous methods. However, the British actually won the French and Indian Wars using traditional European tactics. For example, the Fortress of Louisbourg was captured twice using European siege methods. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 was also a European-style battle fought in open fields.
Guerrilla Warfare
The French often used a fighting style called la Petite guerre, which is like today's guerrilla warfare. They had fewer soldiers in North America, so they couldn't fight in the usual European way. This is why the French relied a lot on their Indigenous allies. The French had a small population, and their colonies depended on the fur trade, which was good for both French people and Native Americans. Also, the British colonies were a common threat. These things made Indigenous peoples willing to be allies with the French. The Battle of the Monongahela was a big success for this guerrilla style of fighting. But in the end, the British had too many soldiers, and their traditional European tactics won the war.
Military Forces
British Forces
The British military had a few types of soldiers:
- British Army: These were regular soldiers sent from Britain. They usually arrived after a war had started.
- Provincial Troops: These were soldiers raised by the different British colonies in America. They signed up for a short time. The British Army didn't think these troops were very good, except for special groups like Rogers' Rangers.
- Colonial Militia: Every colony had its own militia. These were groups of local men, usually aged 16 to 60, who were supposed to defend their local area. They mostly acted as a home guard and didn't often fight far from home.
French Forces
The French military in New France also had different groups:
- Marines: These were called the Compagnies Franches de la Marine. They were the main soldiers in New France. Their officers often came from Canadian families. The British rangers tried to copy their fighting style.
- French Army: Regular French Army units were sent to Canada only during the French and Indian War.
- Colonial Militia: The Canadian colonial militia was generally more motivated and better at fighting than the British colonial militia. This was especially true when they fought as home guards or in the wilderness. They also helped a lot with transportation and building roads.
Indigenous Allies
British Allies
The Iroquois League was very important in the fight between Britain and France. They lived in a key area east and south of Lake Ontario. The Iroquois were strong and controlled large parts of the land. They made an agreement called the Covenant Chain with the colony of New York and other British colonies. This agreement helped both sides and was bad for France.
French Allies
France saw the Indigenous tribes as independent but also claimed control over their land. They also said they had the right to speak for their Indigenous allies to other European powers. The French allies accepted this because it let them govern themselves and keep their traditional way of life. The Mi'kmaq and the Abenaki tribes became Catholic. This made them feel like brothers with the French in the fight against the British. Many other Indigenous people, called indiens domiciliés, lived at Catholic missions in New France. They included Mohawk people and others who moved there to escape English attacks. All these resident Indigenous peoples later joined together in the confederation of the Seven Nations of Canada.
Fighting Between Indigenous and White Groups
A certain way of fighting developed during these wars. It involved European colonial powers and American Indigenous peoples. The Indigenous tribes often became allies with the colonial powers. These alliances happened because of trade, especially the fur trade. Also, Indigenous tribes needed allies against their own Indigenous rivals. The fighting often involved attacks on towns and villages on all sides. People were killed or captured, and homes and crops were burned.
See also
In Spanish: Guerras franco-indígenas para niños
