Imperial wars in the Americas 1688-1748 Flashcards
Describe the Nine year’s war / King William’s War (1689-1697) causes, events
First European inter-imperial war that had colonial involvement
Prior to this, colonies weren’t part of a generalized war strategy
Something that we see in all these imperial wars involving the english and the french is that they adopt asymmetric war strategies
Anglo americans are far more numerous than the French
Thus New France has to heavily rely on their Indigenous allies and adopts a different style of warfare
In the 13 colonies, each one operates almost entirely independently of the others, especially at this point in time there is very little oversight and organizational structure
So even though the 13 colonies are far more numerous, they are not able to operate as effectively as a unit
This war begins as a combination of the French king Louis the 14th looking to expand the borders of the Kingdom
Louis the 14 wanting to expand kingdom
Glorious revolution in England where the house of Stuart was booted out
Leader of the Netherlands was invited to marry the daughter of James the second
Louis the 14th does not recognize him as King, instead he recognizes James the second as king
Jacobite movement for the next 50 years (those that support James the second and then his successors, recognize the house of stuart as still the legitimate kings of England) which is the reason behind this war
Describe the war of the Spanish Succession / Queen Anne’s War (1701-1713) causes
King of Spain (Charles the second) extremely sickly because he was inbred
No clear successors within his line
What happens to the throne when Charles the second dies because Spain is a global empire
First world war (fought over questions of trade and colonies)
Who is going to have access to Spain and its colonies
Basically have two big claimants to it
One is a French claimant who ultimately succeeds
He is the grandson of Louis 14th
Nightmare scenario to have a french king for both france and spain (dynastic union between france and spain)
So the Netherlands primarily supported the claimants of Austria to have power
France didn’t want that so war breaks out
what did Britain gain from the treaty of Utrecht that ends the war of spanish succession?
Things like colonial matters take center stage
So even though Britain does recognize King Phillip the king of spain, he has to give up for himself and all of his heirs any claim to the throne of france
Britain gains a bunch of stuff: Newfoundland, Acadia, Husdons bay
Gained the Asiento: Spain would farm out a monopoly, they would say who wants to bid for the right to supply our colonies with slaves
Gave them access to Spanish markets and the Americas which was useful for smuggling/contraband trade
Spanish colonies could only trade with spanish merchants. But you had these fairly well populated colonies often with silver to trade so the British wanted to trade with them
English-Indigenous conflict in Maine and Acadia: Father Rale’s War, 1722-1726 (describe it)
English moving into the areas (First Nations were not consulted)
Conflict between English and Indigenous going into the 1700s
Father Rale(missionary) was a go-between between Indigenous and the French (the english find correspondence between him and the governor of new france (he’s supplying the Wabenaki with guns and ammo
English kill Father Rale
War of Jenkins’s Ear and The War of the Austrian Succession/King George’s War (1739-1748) war in india
Parliament is dominant in British politics
Spanish started creating coast guards (interdict british ships that may have contraband)
In one instance this british captain named Robert Jenkins has his ship seized by a spanish coast guard where there is some kind of fight and he winds up cutting off Jenkin’s ear
So it began the war between Britain and Spain but other European countries become involved
France was allied with spain through a treaty
Louisbourg (fortified french city in present day cape breton island) center of french trade, one of the most heavily defended areas within North America
There is a major attack on it in 1745
One of the largest military expeditions of the time
The french launch an even bigger expedition to try to get it back
Long trip so many died
War taking place in India as well
Both the east indies companies of france and spain
Made alliance with various powers within india
East indies companies and their indian allies are fighting each other during this time
The french take the english port of Madras and during the treaty that ends this particular conflict, Madras and Louisbourg are exchanged
Shows how all these global colonies are being conceived as part of the system
War ends but a lot of the conflicts that are developing between britain and france are left unresolved
Particularly within North America
Probably going to be another war coming
The Tense Inter-War Years, 1748-1754
Halifax first planned imperial city (North American base of British navy)
The French would boat down and would pin flags/plaques etc.
Tried to resolidify trade
Indigenous don’t want to be told what to do
Increases conflict between Britain and France
France built forts down Ohio river valley
English create companies to purchase land from Indigenous people within Ohio Valley (for future conflict can have land and expand it)
Gearing up for a fight
George Washington: A colonial officer in britain’s atlantic empire (who was Washington, sugar plantation, etc.)
Royalist family
Washington’s father dies so his older brother laurence becomes his father figure
Laurence involved in Atlantic commerce (brings Washington to barbados)
Only time he was outside the 13 colonies
Sees that the sugar planters of Barbados are far more wealthy
Introduction to wider British imperial world
Fort Duquesne (pittsburgh), 1754
Wanted to keep the 13 colonies on the eastern side of the Allegheny mountains
Importance of controlling water (highways)
Governor of Virginia dispatches Washington to command troops to go to Fort Labeouf and tell the French commander that it was Virginia territory and to get out
Washington becomes a Colonel instructs him to build a fort to establish themselves
French beat them to it
Washington allies with half King (Indigenous Iroquois)
Half King says to ambush and Washington agrees
Indigenous people use imperial powers for their own benefit
Results in the first battle of the seven years war
Battles of Jumonville Glen and Fort Necessity, 1754
First battle of the 7 year war
Imperial ambitions and competition for the rich fur trade with american indian tribes brought england and france into conflict in the ohio river valley
When the french began building outposts, the royal governor in Virginia sent an expedition to secure the forks of the ohio leading to the battle of jumonville glen
Washington fortifies himself out of necessity (like the title)
In a bad position
If they fight they will fail
Waves white flag and asks for surrender
Signs treaty to march troops back to Virginia
Seven years war began in the americas and then moved to Europe
what was the outcome of the nine years war
-Botched attack on Montreal
-1690 launched by New England governors expedition to take Quebec
-War ends in 1697 with a peace treaty
-This war cements the succession of William the third and his heirs to the throne of England
-Establishes in Britain that parliament is supreme and sets Britain as a global power that can compete with France
describe the raid on Deerfield, MA during the war of spanish succession
Raid on Deerfield, MA in 1704 (leader was a french canadian, his army consisted of 50 canadians and 300 first nations allies like the abenaki and some Mohawks)
They marched down from Montreal to Deerfield and kill a bunch of people, capture 100 and march them back up to Montreal
This raid was remembered due to memorial in America
Lot of other destructive raids we don’t know about because they were not memorialized
In 1710, Port Royal which is the capital of French Acadia is captured and Britain retains hold of that after the war
Private ships damaging opponents ships
Braddock’s Expedition and The Battle of the Monongahela 1755
-Britain and France start sending regular troops to the colonies
-Britain sends Edward Braddock (commander in chief of all the British forces in North America)
-He lands at Jamestown in Virginia
-Headed towards Canada
-The French knew that they were coming
-The french organize a force
-Many First Nations allies to France (600-700 first nations)
-Massacre
-Braddock is shot and wounded
-Washington is also wounded
-British flee
-Major defeat that causes both sides to strengthen their military
Course of the war 1755-1758 (in the early years who is dominant?)
-In the early years the french are dominant (colonial regulars and militia, alliances with first nations groups)
-Montcalme wins battle in 1758
-Montcalme adopts an aggressive approach
-British are outnumbering the french (french can no longer replace their losses)
Sir William Johnson and the Mohawks (who was sir William Johnson and what was he able to do?)
-Sir William Johnson was an Irish protestant who had immigrated to New York and became a wealthy trader
-The Mohawks were pro-english
-Johnson gathers many of them to act as warriors
-Johnson understood how important kinship was to the Mohawks
-Johnson was able to recruit the largest amount of Indigenous allies
Anglo-Cherokee War 1758-1761
Already had farming tradition
Britain’s biggest Indigenous ally
“More civilized and developmental”
Located in the south
British relied heavily on the cherokee
But the cherokee felt abused
War occurs between English and Cherokee
3 chiefs go to London and make peace (colonists taking over their land)
Alienate the colonists (sold them out to the Cherokee)
English felt that they were being selfish and stupid
