The Seven Years War (1756-63) Flashcards
(18 cards)
Why did Britain declare war in 1756?
France took over fort Prince George and renamed it Fort Duquesne. Unsuccessful in reclaiming the fort
How many acres of land were Virginia given?
200,000 acres in the Ohio Valley from Britain
What did France do in response to the building of Fort Prince George?
Built a series of forts in response
Who led the Virginian force to stop the French in 1754? Was he successful?
George Washington led a Virginian force to stop the French. By the time they had gotten there, fort Prince George was seized and renamed Fort Duquesne. Washington and his troops were forced to surrender
How did Britain respond to Fort Duquesne?
Launched a four - pronged attack
Was this four - pronged attack successful?
No
• Britain were unaccustomed to fighting in a remote and hostile environment
• Red uniforms made them an easy target
• The French had Native Americans and Guerilla fighting
• General Braddock unable to recapture Duquesne
• However, Britain were successful in taking Nova Scotia
What was the colonists approach?
• Believed it was a shared endeavour due to Pitt’s reversal of the policy that British soldiers took precedence over colonists despite their rank
• Mostly built roads and forts
How did Pitt gain upper hand over the French?
Paid Frederick the great of Prussia to attack French forces in Europe. French were unable to send reinforcements to North America as they were preoccupied in Europe
Which act stationed British soldiers in America to protect them from French invasion?
Militia Act 1757
Who helped Pitt gain parliamentary approval for his plans?
Duke of Newcastle
How many troops did Britain send to America in comparison to France in 1758?
Britain: 45,000
France: 6,800
Why was William Pitt crucial to the victory?
• Able to secure loans
• Developed a three-pronged attack
• Approached the war as a shared endeavour between colonists and the British
Who created a series of reforms that transformed the British Navy and what were they?
Lord Anson
• 18,000 sailors manned 100 ships to take over Quebec
Why was the Navy crucial in winning the seven years war?
Pitt used the Navy to block off French trade routes to cut off their supplies which they relied on. We’re not self sufficient like the British, caused them to starve out
Why did the Natives switch sides to support the British?
British naval superiority meant that they could supply the natives with goods
Why did the French lose?
• Inhabited less fertile regions
• Small in numbers (6800)
• Depended on imports
• Poor harvests on 1756 and 1757
• Lost Native American support
Who led the seven years war?
William Pitt (elected Secretary of State in 1757 by The Duke of Newcastle)
What did the treaty of Paris do?
Ended the seven years war
