The french and indian war?

Question

Question....what was the France's intentions for North america?

Answer 1

Have you seen 'The Last of the Mohican's'? It is set during this war.

The French and Indian War was the war that started in North America when England officially declared war on France in 15 May 1756, when the war had already spread to Europe, and became known as the 7 years war between France and England in Europe.

However, fighting had already started from 1754 at the Battle of Jumonville Glen, when George Washington, sent to negotiate boundaries witht the French met and killed a French officer at Jumonville Glen (he lead a group of Virginian Colonial Troops).

It was a war between France and her Native American Huron and Algonquin allies, and England and her Iroquis allies.

That's why it is known as the French and Indian War in North America, but in England, France and Canada they call it the 7 Years War (but some historians date it from the declaration of war in Europe).

There were numerous reasons why France and England went to war in North America:

Both France and England wanted Territorial Control over the New Land. The British and the French claimed the vast territory between the Appalachians and the Mississippi river, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, known as the Ohio Country.

France had extensive beaver pelt colonies in Canada and North America. At the same time, in France under King Louis XV France was in serious economic troubles, having been involved in a long succession of wars, including the Austrian Law of Succession. They needed the money from derived from the natural resources in North America. In fact, France's treasury had been almost bankrupt since the time of King Louis XIV, and this continued through to King Louis XV reign.

Also, England had broken international law in 1755 by seizing 200 French Merchant ships. This caused tension between the French and English.

Please note, that while its called the French and Indian War, both England and France ignored the territorial and sovereign rights of the Native American Indians who fought and died for them when it suited their self interests.

Also, under Louis XV, or more accurately the Duke of Bourbon, Protestants were persecuted in France. King Louis XIV had revoked the Treaty of Nantes which had given Protestant Huguenots in France the same rights as Catholics under Henry IV. King Louis XIV revoked this in 1685 in the Treaty of Fountainbleu, and the persecution of Protestants continued in Louis XV reign, and made Protestant countries like England hostile to France.

The protestant British colonists feared papal influence in North America as New France was administered by French governors and Roman Catholic hierarchy and missionaries such as Armand de La Richardie were active.

For the predominantly Protestant British settlers, French control over North America could have represented a threat to their religious and other freedoms that were provided by English law.

Newfoundland's Grand Banks were fertile fishing grounds and coveted by both sides. The conclusion of this war would see France keeping only the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, allowing them access to the Grand Banks to this day.

However, the War resulted in a humiliating defeat from France and lost of nearly all of Canada and Louisiana. Historically, this led to the economic crisis in King Louis XVI reign, causing the French Revolution.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Tllhe French had a very profitable fur trade with Native Americans from Qeubec all the over to the Great Lakes and down the Missisippi to New Orleans. The French were much smoother than the English (who were quite a bit more racist). It was apparent that British colonials did not want to stay on the Eastern side of the Appalachians. They liked the fur trade too, but they also wanted land, as much as they could get. France had a good strategy: contain the British by building a string of forts all along the great rivers and lakes, and making local alliances with Native American tribes such as the Ottawas and Chippewa. Unfortuantely for France, the British had a much higher birth rate and a higher rate of immigration, which meant that policing the frontier was really quite difficult.

Answer 3

They wanted to claim it as their own- but didn't send enough men to get the job done. They only had militatry posts scattered around (most on the Mississippi River) which were of course only men- and missionaries- also men. If they had sent more people, including women, they might have been able to take over the country from the natives, and defeat the British.