From Comfort to Discontent

Bell Ringer

When do you think it is necessary for citizens to rebel against their government?

Objectives of Lesson

Explain how the Navigation Acts benefited everyone but the New England colonies

Describe the events that led to the French and Indian War

List the conditions of the Treaty of Paris Explain how the impact of the treaty on

Great Britain, Native Americans, and the colonists led to the Proclamation of 1763.

I. Relationship between Europe and the Colonies

A. England did not have a plan when creating the colonies

1. South founded by profit-motivated companies2. New England founded for religious freedom

ABOVE: Advertisement for Southern tobacco

RIGHT: Puritan family seeking religious freedom

A. England did not have a plan when creating the colonies

3. 2 colonies were experiments:a) Pennsylvania

1) Founded by William Penn, a Quaker

2) A place you could make your own laws

b) Georgia1) Founded by James

Oglethorpe2) A place for people in

debt to start over again

ABOVE: Contemporary

poster of the Pennsylvania Dutch,

who still live in Pennsylvania today

RIGHT: James Oglethorpe

B. Navigation Acts1660 – King Charles II enacted the Navigation Acts on colonies

B. Navigation Acts

1. Could only export crops/materials to England or English colonies

2. Could only import manufactured goods from England

B. Navigation Acts

3. The plan worked well at firsta) Southern planters sent tobacco, rice, and indigo to Englandb) Middle colonies sent extra grain to West Indies to feed slavesc) English manufacturers benefited from colonial market

B. Navigation Acts4. New England colonies did

not benefit at alla) No crops to exportb) Resorted to illegal

trade with other countries

II. Battle over Ohio River Valley

A. Both England & France claimed Ohio River Valley

B. 1753 – France began building forts in the valley

1. Gov. of Virginia sent George Washington to warn them of trespassing

2. France refused to move

A Cherokee with Forbes command scouts Fort Duquesne in 1758. 

C. Washington returned with militia to build British fort

1. Met French along the way, battle began2. Washington was surrounded & surrendered

D. Natives saw French victory and decided to side with France

                                               

Natives celebrate a victory over the British by sporting their new red coats and other spoils taken from defeated soldiers

E. Fighting spread into Europe, West Indies, Africa, and Asia

III. French and Indian War

A. Americans called war “French and Indian War”

B. March to Fort Duquesne

1755 – 800 British troops, 600 Militia Men, including George Washington, march to Fort Duquesne1. Bright red coats = easy targets in forest2. French and natives fired from all around them3. 2/3 killed

C. 1759 – British attacked Quebec1. Flat, open land (unlike forest) perfect for British troops2. Surprise attack led to British victory

The death of British General James Wolfe during the Battle of Quebec, September 1759

British troops attacking the French Canadian stronghold of Quebec in

one of the most important battles of the French and lndian War. This

painting by Sigmund Samuel depicts the September 13, 1759 surprise invasion by the British.

D. The British continued to defeat the French for 3 more years

IV. Treaty of Paris & Proclamation of 1763

A. 1763 – Treaty of Paris officially ended war

1. France gave Canada to Britain

2. Mississippi River Valley (called Louisiana) was divideda) Britain got part of

Louisiana east of Mississippi R.

b) Spain got part of Louisiana west of Mississippi R.

B. Great Britain became most powerful nation in the world

C. Relations with Native Americans were poor

1. They still remained loyal to France

2. Accused British fur traders of corrupting their people with rum and cheating them of furs

3. Noticed increase of British settlers spreading west

4. Natives began attacking British forts and settlements

D. British government declared Ohio Valley as Indian Reservation

E. Drew a line along Appalachians through which colonists could not pass

F. Colonists were furious

1. Many planned to settle west

2. Some invested in western land, now worthless

3. Most only fought because wanted to move west

H. King George needed to send soldiers to America to keep peace

1. Soldiers cost money2. Already raised taxes in

England3. Colonies already

showed reluctance to approve taxes

G. War left England in debt

E. The Quartering Acts

• British feelings on this act were mixed: some really wanted to protect the colonies; many wanted to cut costs in doing so; also, the colonies would be paying to support the war veterans rather than Britain.

• After the war, the British government built up troops in the colonies to protect them from remaining threats from the French and Indians.

• In 1765, Parliament passed the Quartering act: Colonies were to provide for the basic needs(food, housing, bedding, beer, candles, utensils, etc.) of the troops staying in their territory.

• Later, in 1766 the law even allowed soldiers to be housed at taverns or unoccupied houses.

I. Colonists didn’t understand need for soldiers1. No soldiers when French

occupied territory, why now?

2. Uncomfortable having British troops permanently stationed in America

3. Suspected troops would force them to obey British laws

J. Tensions between colonists and the King began to arise

Later protests against the King’s taxes lead to war.