Key Events & Battles, French & Indian War
The Death of Wolfe by Benjamin West,1770
(National Gallery of Canada at Ottawa)
EventDateLocationNotes/Significance
British defeated at Ft. Duquesne1755Western Pennsylvania (present-day Pittsburgh)Gen. Braddock's force of 1450 men surrounded and defeated by Indian and French-Canadian forces
American colonists refuse to serve under British commander1757American coloniesNew British commander (Lord Loudoun) closely managed the war effort, demanding exact numbers of recruits and money from colonies. Colonial assemblies began to refuse to cooperate.
French take Ft. Oswego1756Upstate New YorkFrench commander Montcalm takes fort, but is horrified to discover that his Indian allies kill wounded soldiers, take scalps, and make slaves of captives.
Massacre at Ft. William Henry1757Upstate New YorkFollowing surrender of British and colonial garrison to Montcalm (who promised safe passage back to England), Indians killed 185 and took 310 British captive.
William Pitt guides British war effort1757-1761LondonAs Secretary of State, Pitt sought to reduce tension with colonists by promising payment in proportion to support of war effort, giving colonial assemblies control of recruitment, sending thousands more British soldiers, and replacing Lord Loudoun with a more reasonable commander
Louisbourg and Ft. Duquesne captured by British1758Quebec & Western PennsylvaniaBritish-American-Indian forces overwhelm French who abandon Louisbourg and burn Ft. Duquesne before retreating north.
Battle of Quebec1759QuebecThrough British commander Gen. Wolfe is killed (along with French commander Montcalm), British forces sieze Quebec in dramatic uphill attack.
Battle of Quiberon Bay1759Off FranceBritish victory restricted French navy's ability to resupply forces in Canada.
Iriquois join British-American alliance1760American coloniesBalance of power tips towards British with this addition
French surrender Montreal1760QuebecGreatly outnumbered French forces are defeated in war's final battle in the Americas.
British capture Havana, Manila from Spain1762Cuba, Philippine IslandsAs Spain enters the war as a French ally, it suffers defeats from British naval forces.
Treaty of Paris1763Paris, FranceFrance gives up claims to all of its North American possessions. All land west of the Mississippi and New Orleans goes to Spain. All land east of the Mississippi River and Canda goes to England.
Major Results of the French & Indian War
1. British territorial claims greatly expanded in America.
2. British debt grew in an attempt to finance an ever-expanding war.
3. Resentment towards American colonists grew in Parliament among those who saw Americans as unwilling to financially support a war on their behalf.
4. American colonists unified for the first time against a common enemy.
5. Colonial militias saw themselves as volunteers or a "people's army" in contrast to the authoritarian and coercive British army.
6. France's influence in development of North American dwindled mightily.
