The French and Indian War proved to be a crucial turning point in the colonists' perception of the British. By fighting and eventually helping the British win the war, many colonists felt as if they had done more than enough to secure not only control of the region, but also preserve the way of life they had built. Students can analyze and explain this event through a T-Chart that lists major events of the war and their overall effects. This activity is aimed at giving students not only a perception of how the war was fought and won, but also its effects on the colonial attitude towards increasing British control and policy.
| EVENTS | EFFECTS |
|---|---|
| Britain and France claimed control over vast areas of the North American continent. Britain primarily controlled the seaboard as France looked further inland. Both countries soon began to dispute who controls where, as their colonial boundaries and claims fell into disagreement. | These disagreements ultimately marked the start of the French and Indian War. In particular, British colonists undertook an unsuccessful attempt to seize a French fort at the forks of the Ohio River in 1754. Britain then began its campaign against the French and their allies for control over inland regions of North America. |
| Britain saw the need and opportunity to unify their colonies in their war against the Native American and French forces. They had to get the colonists to come together and defend their territory and claims as a unified front. | Converging in Albany, New York, colonial leaders from several colonies met to discuss their potential unified front. Benjamin Franklin led the discussion, proposing what is known as the Albany Plan of Union for creating a council of colonial leaders to help dictate the war. It failed to gain colonial approval, and Britain faltered in the first stage of the war. |
| In 1758, British forces began to overwhelm the French and Native American forces. With this, the Iroquois switched their allegiance to the British, and began fighting against the French. In 1759, Britain invaded New France and captured the city of Quebec, a major turning point in the war. | With the fall of Quebec and further victories, Great Britain, France, and Spain (France’s ally) met to sign the Treaty of Paris in 1763, effectively ending the French and Indian War. France agreed to surrender all of its North American claims, as well as its land east of the Mississippi. Britain had won the war and achieved its aims. |
| Despite the victory, the war greatly strained relations between the British and the colonists. They had fought hard, and did so in loyalty to the British Empire. Through war, they had helped the British achieve their colonial aims in defeating France. | The British saw themselves as protectors of the colonists, as though colonists had not done enough. The colonists, on the other hand, were shocked at how weak the British military was. Furthermore, the colonists felt as though it was now their right to expand into the newly acquired territories and prosper. The British, however, felt differently. |
Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard detailing the events of the French and Indian War and the effects/outcomes of each event.
One of the topics students can reflect on while discussing the French and Indian War is the causes and consequences of this war. Once the students are able to understand why the war happened and what kind of consequences it had, they will be able to analyze its significance and relevance in history.
Students can research and shortlist other wars to discuss how wars impact economies and societies. Teachers can help the students compare the French and Indian War with another war on different frameworks. For instance, the impacts of both wars, the major figures involved, the motivation behind the war, etc. Students can make Venn Diagrams to visualize these distinctions.
Introduce primary sources, such as letters, maps, or snippets from historical records pertaining to the French and Indian War, if at all feasible. Examining original sources can offer insightful information on the attitudes and viewpoints of individuals at the time. Students can visit any important historical sites or museums available to find out more about the war.
Encourage the students to take into account the perspectives of other parties, such as the British, the French, Native American tribes, and even specific historical personalities. This may result in a more in-depth and thorough understanding of the war. Students can even write different analyses from different perspectives to understand the people involved.
Ask the students to summarize all the information they have gathered so far on this event and share any opinions, perspectives, and insights they have formed after going through all the new information. Students can reflect on how this information has changed their point of view and how they can use this information for further analysis.
The Marquis de Montcalm, the French military commander, George Washington (for the British), William Pitt, the British Prime Minister, and several Native American chiefs were significant individuals who played an important role in the war.
Though the conflict did not directly contribute to the American Revolution, it played an important role by adding more tension. Britain's ties with the American colonies were strained as a result of this war.
The conflict had a significant impact on colonial boundaries, the loss of France as a major colonial power in North America, and the escalation of hostilities between Britain and its American colonies, among other things.