The Seven Years' War

Introduction

• The Seven Years' War (1756–63) was the first global war, fought in Europe, India, and America, and at sea.
• In North America, imperial rivals Britain and France struggled for supremacy.

Why It happened

• In 1756–the first official year of fighting in the Seven Years War–the British suffered a series of defeats against the French and their broad network of Native American alliances.

Why It Happened Part 2

• However, in 1757, British Prime Minister William Pitt (the older) recognized the potential of imperial expansion that would come out of victory against the French and borrowed heavily to fund an expanded war effort. Pitt financed Prussia’s struggle against France and her allies in Europe and reimbursed the colonies for the raising of armies in North America.

Through The War

• Early in the war, the French (aided by Canadian militia and Aboriginal allies) defeated several British attacks and captured a number of British forts.
• In 1758, the tide turned when the British captured Louisbourg, followed by Québec City in 1759 and Montréal in 1760.

Through The War Part 2

• By 1760, the French had been expelled from Canada, and by 1763 all of France’s allies in Europe had either made a separate peace with Prussia or had been defeated.
• In addition, Spanish attempts to aid France in the Americas had failed, and France also suffered defeats against British forces in India.

Through the war Part 3

• And With the Treaty of Paris of 1763, France formally ceded Canada to the British. and largely withdrew from the continent.
• However, the removal of France as a North American power gave Anglo-American colonists greater confidence, as they no longer needed the protection of the British military

The Seven Years’ War was a crucial turning point in Canadian history. And therefore laid the bicultural foundations of modern Canada.