As
Britain and France fought for control of Europe, their antagonism eventually
spilled over into their North American colonies, resulting in British
domination of the continent.
The initial conflicts, including King William's War
(1689-1697), Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), and King George's War (1744-1748),
were fought by regular French and British units, reinforced with local
militiamen. Although these battles were fought along the borders of the
French and British colonies, the question of who would control the New
World wasn't established until the French and Indian War (1748-1763).
Fighting broke out when a group of Virginians, led by
George Washington, defeated a small French force in the Ohio Valley and
established Fort Necessity. The French then sent in a larger army, forcing
Washington to surrender. The war had begun and it inevitably spread into
Europe as the Seven Years War.
Initially, British efforts to appropriate the West and
Canada from France and its Native American allies met with failure. However,
events began to turn around in 1757, when William Pitt took over the war
effort in America.
A series of British successes, including those in Quebec
and Montreal, led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which moved control
of Canada from France to Britain. As a consequence of the war, Britain
reevaluated its relationship with the colonies, creating a situation that
would lead to the American Revolution. |
Colonial
Wars @ HistoryChannel.com - Read an introduction to the various
conflicts and locate related biographies.
King
Philip's War
- Examines the ramifications of the conflict on life in colonial New
England.
Operation
Phips - Read about the recovery of a 17th century ship used in the
colonial wars between England and France.
Discriminating
General's 7 Years War Page - Read articles, view uniforms, and find
out about reenactments.
The
French and Indian War Discussion Port - Discuss aspects of the colonial
conflicts with fellow history enthusiasts.
Rogers' Ranging Company
- Provides a dedication to Colonel Joseph Blanchard's New Hampshire
Provincial Regiment.
The
French and Indian War - Covers the major events, the forts, and
the military leaders of the war.
George
Washington - Focuses on Washington's experiences in the French and
Indian War.
Newspaper
Coverage - Learn how the media covered the colonial wars between England
and France in North America. |
