7 Years war: India and America Flashcards
Calcutta (reconquest)
Fortified by British to protect from French
Then conquered by a Bengal Nawab
Reconquered by Robert Clive in 1757
Bengal nawab conflct
Clive supports a new rival nawab
Defeats the old nawab at Plassey in 1757
Coalition: 2 nawabs attempt to retake control in 1764 - failure
Result: Britain gains full control of Bengal (beginning of British expansion in India)
French in India (Chandernagar and Pontichery)
Demilitarised after Madras experience in 1764
Moghul empire (decline in 18th c)
Ruled most of India in the 16th and 17th centuries
1707: start of decline due to policies that led to religious conflict (under Aurangzeb)
1739: Delhi sacked by Persians (Nader Shah)
1757: sacked by Afghans (Ahmad Shah Durrani)
Maratha empire
Dominant Hindu power in central India
Expansion during Mughal decline
Defeated by Afghans in 1761
Followed by Afghan withdrawal after victory
Power vacuum
Combination of:
1) Mughal decline
2) Maratha defeat
3) Afghan withdrawal
Left a power vacuum in the continent that could easily be filled by Britain
French and Indian war
1754-61: BNA vs France, with Indian tribes fighting with the French
Largely for control of Ohio
British victories: Louisberg (1758), Quebec (59), Montral (60)
Reasons for British victory in America
French approach: focus at home and minimal interference in the colonies
British: contrary, numerical and technological superiority in the colonies
Outcome (America)
End of French colonial rule in Canada
Loss of Nouvelle France
East of Mississipi: to Britain
West: to Spain (compensation for loss of Florida)
Future developments
Florida: Spanish again in 83
Louisiana and Florida: French again in 1800
Louisiana purchase:1803
Spain cedes Florida:1819/21
From BNA to USA
Resentment: London wants compensation for 7 years war
BNA: no taxation w/o representation
Protest: tea act of 1773, withdrawn after Boston Tea party
Declaration of Independence in 1776
War of independence until 83
