Anglo-French Rivalry in North America
- By the 1600s–1700s, Britain and France both wanted control of North America’s resources (fur, land, trade routes).
- France controlled Canada (New France) and parts of the Mississippi Valley; Britain had the 13 colonies along the Atlantic coast.
- Rivalry grew as both expanded westward into the Ohio River Valley, sparking clashes.
Alliances with Indigenous Peoples
- France relied heavily on alliances with indigenous groups (e.g., Huron, Algonquin) for the fur trade and defense.
- Britain allied with the Iroquois Confederacy, who were powerful rivals of the French-aligned tribes.
- Indigenous peoples played Europeans against each other, sometimes gaining trade goods, weapons, and political leverage.
Definition
Seven Years’ War (1756–1763)
A global conflict between Britain and France that extended from Europe to North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. In North America it was known as the French and Indian War and decided which empire would dominate the continent.
