Introduction
The Seven Years’ War was the first worldwide armed war between 1756 and 1763, involving big powers of that time, affecting India, North America, and Europe. The fight was between Russia, Austria, France, Saxony, Sweden, and Spain (Spain joined a war in 1762) on one side and Prussia, Britain, and Hanover (a German state) on the other hand. This war staged a power structure for North America and Europe, and GB’s usurpation of force and power in India. In North America, the British and French fought a war as early as 1754 (Riley 36). Both nations tried to oust each other by ignoring the rights of tribes who had been residing there.
The 1755 battle of Monongahela River was the very first fight between the French and Indians that was folded into seven years, now known as the Seven Years’ War. Fredrick, the then ruler of Prussia, was creating problems by invading Saxony and Austria. Since Maria Theresa was the queen of Hungary and Bohemia, France declared war on Prussia to uphold the Versailles Treaty between Austria and France. Allies of Prussia were Britain and the German state Hanover. To evade the attack by the British, the French threatened to attack England and annex it later. But, this plan ended with the defeat of the French fleet in 1759 (Anderson 40). This essay will include all the grounds and historical events that caused and led to the war, and how significant it was for North Americans’ time span ranging from 1954 to 1964.
Discussion
This seven-year war was not limited to the battles, but it escalated to the trade in India. This trade competition between France and England ended with the fight and setting up of the East India Company and their puppet government. The battle between France and British also included the Carribean as well. English navy took several islands comprising of Marie-Galante, Guadaloupe, and Martinique. Later, Spain joined the war in 1762. In the same year, British ships seized Havana and Cuba from Spain.
After years, on February 10, 1763, a treaty of Paris was formally signed. France gave Louisiana to Spain, but it kept New Orleans and the other three Caribbean islands with itself. Spain surrendered Florida to the English but re-claimed Cuba. Britain had all the French towns, India, and Ohio.
Causes, Events, Effects, and Result of War
The settlement issue in the Ohio zone is considered to have been the leading cause of the fight. Great Britain and France annexed Ohio and directed their traders to trade with Ohio Indians (Peters). The region was considered a hub for both countries’ further development goals in North America. At the same time, the Iroquois demanded the region by conquest. The contention between the two European nations, for control of the area played a crucial role in the eruption of the Indian and French War in 1750 (Anderson 25). In 1753, France built fortifications in the area. In response, the governor of Virginia (then a British colony) sent soldiers to the Ohio frontier. Washington crushed a small French detachment, but, a massive French force conquered Washington.
In April 1756, the additional French army under the new commander named ‘Montcalm,’ reached Canada. Soon after, Britain declared war the next month. The tactic of the French commander, ‘Marquis De Vaudreuil’ kept Britain on the defensive. Montcalm took the British Fort Osweg0 in 1756 and got control of the Great Lakes. France also netted Fort William Henry. In 1758, the battle twisted contrary to the French, with the English force hurling numerous attacks on France’s outposts. In July, 15,000 American and British troops, attacked Fort Carillon, but they were defeated by a power of 3800 soldiers by Montcalm. However, England attacked Louisbourg in the summer of the same year, opening the gates for British ships. In August 1758, Great Britain demolished Fort Frontenac (Farhatullah 4).
The next year, in 1759, the British expanded to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Islands with the surprise of three campaigns against French defense. Two British armies forwarded to Canada, while a third captured Niagara. Major-General James Wolf of the Royal Navy went to Quebec with nine thousand army men. General Jeffery annexed Lake Champlain. Wolfe persuaded Montcalm to fight a battle on 13th September 1759 outside the Quebec region, which caused substantial obstruction within the battle of Plains of Abraham; further, this city yielded after a few days.
The situation of Britain at Quebec was feeble; the Royal Navy withdrew from the area, isolating the British garrison. When Chevalier De Levis became in charge of the French force the following April, quickly overpowered the British in the same combat zone. The British withdrew to Quebec, and Levis sieged the city (Kennett 256). The French army-men also relinquished Montreal and was forced to relent to Jeffery on 8 September 1760. English took Martinique in 1762, and Spanish intrusion saved the other French islands captured by France in the West Indies.
Conclusion
Paris Peace Treaty and Significance
However, by 1760, the British were under a massive state debt. The minister for War, William Pitt, was also ousted from office in 1761 by the George III king, and ceasefire negotiations began. The French government was indomitable in redeeming the valuable sugar colonies of Guadeloupe and Martinique. France relinquished the significant precincts of Louisiana to Spain to pay for the submission of Florida to England to force the Spanish king to negotiate for the peace process.
France left Canada for Britain, as it was not commercially essential and valuable for France but the islands of the West Indies. The location and size of Canada made it an expensive defending colony (Ward 63). Moreover, Choiseul was of the view that the colonies in America that no longer needed English protection, would soon come to the streets for revolution. It boosted the Americans’ confidence, and Twelve years later, a revolt occurred in American colonies against Britain (Savory).
Ironically, with the context of significance, the Military aid of the French to Americans enabled them to gain Independence and become independent. The bicultural foundation of Modern Canada was also due to the Seven Years’ War. Great Britain had also been proven as the great power of the age. The event is entirely noteworthy; that molded countries, governments, and a map of the continent and lives. This war was the end of French power in the USA. It became the first battle in the history of humankind to be fought around the globe.
Works Cited
Anderson, Fred. “Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War.” (2000).
Anderson, Fred. A People’s Army: Massachusetts Soldiers and Society in the Seven Years’ War. UNC Press Books, 2012.
Farhatullah, Rai. “Seven Years War.”
Kennett, Lee B. The French armies in the Seven Years’ War: a study in military organization and administration. Duke Univ Pr, 1967.
Peters, Marie. Pitt and popularity: the patriot minister and London opinion during the Seven Years War. Oxford University Press, 1980.
Riley, James C. The Seven Years War and the Old Regime in France: The Economic and Financial Toll. Princeton University Press, 2014.
Savory, Reginald Arthur. His Britannic Majesty’s Army in Germany during the Seven Years War. Oxford, Clarendon, 1966.
Ward, Matthew C. Breaking The Backcountry: Seven Years War In Virginia And Pennsylvania 1754-1765. University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003.
