Wars with France, 1689 - 1748 Flashcards
4 reasons
What were the reasons for so much conflict between the French and British
- British fear of French domination of Western Europe
- Religious differences
- Struggle over control and trade with North America
- Dynastic rivalries.
When and why was the Nine Years’ War fought and what were the consequences?
Date: 1689 - 1697
Reason: English led alliance fighting to counter the growing influence of Louis XIV of France.
Consequences: The little amount of fighting in the colonies did not lead to any major territorial gains from either side.
When and why was the war of Spanish succession fought and what were the consequences?
Date: 1702 - 1713
Reason: English led alliance fighting to stop the grandson of Louis XVI from inheriting the Spanish throne.
Consequences: The war was ended by the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), which led to many territorial gains for the British:
1. Newfoundland
2. Nova Scotia
3. A large chunk of territory around the Hudson Bay
When and why was the War of the Austrian succession fought?
Date: 1740 - 1748 (fighting spread to North America in 1744)
Reason: Dispute over who would inherit the Austrian throne
What were the key events of the war of Austrian succession?
1745: British troops captured the French fort of Louisbourg which was a key victory since it controlled access to the highly important St Lawrence river
1745: Four Native American tribes (grouped together as the Wabanaki confederacy) attacked settlements in Maine. These attacks continued in New York, Massachusetts and Maine until the end of the war.
Reasons for British success in the war of Austrian succession
- The British outnumbered the French 15 - 1, so they had a massive advantage.
- The royal navy’s dominance of the sea (and later the capture of Louisbourg) meant that the French couldn’t resupply their troops.
What were the consequences of the war of Austrian succession?
The British won the war and it was ended by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. However, three years later Louisbourg was returned to the French in exchange for Madras (in India), which angered a lot to people from New England.
