Read Were Europeans Justified in Colonizing North American in Crossroads P.44
UNTI 5 NEW FRANCE
Imperialism and Conflict
Read Were Europeans justified in colonizing North American in Crossroads p.44
- imperialism: the aggressive building of empires
- colonialism: a policy of populating and controlling other people’s territory
- mercantilism: economic policy in which colonies exist to serve the interest of the home country
The map shows the territorial claims of European nations in the Americas in the late 17th century
New France and Thirteen Colonies
The French primarily pursued the fur trade while the English build farming colonies
Imperialism and Conflict
Read Whatis the link between imperialism and conflict? inCrossroads p.55-59
Balance in Power in Europe
- because France and Britain both maintained large colonial empires any conflict between them in Europe would also lead to colonial conflicts
- North America became a battleground as England and France fought for supremacy
- the French in Acadia and New France were focused on the fur trade while British focused on farming and expanding into Ohio River Valley
- war between France and England meant war in North America
France and England fought four wars in the 17th and 18th century
Causes and Consequences
War of Grand Alliance/King William’s War
Causes / Consequences- purpose was to restrict the expansion of French territories to restrict French imperial ambitions
War of Spanish Succession/Queen Anne’s War
Causes / Consequences- purpose was to prevent a French prince from gaining control of Spain, again to restrict French imperial ambitions both in Europe and North America
War of Austrian Succession/King George’s War
Causes / Consequences- purpose was to prevent a French ally from gaining the Austrian throne, again to restrict French imperial ambitions, both in Europe and North America
British-French Conflict in North America
Read How did the wars affect North America?inCrossroads p.58-59
Halifax vs Louisbourg
- British knew that Louisbourg would continue to be a key Frenchstronghold so they built their own fortress, Halifax, farther south onthe Nova Scotia mainland in 1749
Expulsion of Acadians
Read How did the wars affect North America?inCrossroads p.58-59
- British deported the Acadians in 1755-1762 because they refused to take an oath and pledge their loyalty to Britain
- approximately 11, 000 Acadians were deported
- they were sent to the Thirteen Colonies, Louisiana, France
- about 1,700 died at sea
- their homes were burnt and property and land confiscated
- after 1763 some Acadians were allowed to return
How did land issues lead to conflict?
- British and French:the British and the French wanted economic dominance over North America, and by controlling land, they could achieve this
- British and First Nations:the French allowed First Nations control of land, so long as the French controlled the fur trade. the British, the fur trade was less important than settlement, and this led to direct conflict over land, particularly in the Ohio River valley
- British and Acadians:the British wanted the rich farmland that the Acadians had developed over 150 years of cultivation, primarily because good farmland for new settlement was becoming scarce in New England
- role of imperialism in conflict: imperial control of the land led directly to conflict
What is the link between imperialism and conflict?
Competing imperial ambitions led directly to conflict, primarily because colonial powers such as Britain and France, following their mercantilist economic beliefs, needed to have complete control over colonial possessions to ensure national prosperity. If another nation controlled an area that was desired, then a nation felt it was justified going to war to gain control of that area.