Why was the French and Indian War important to our country?

Answer 1

The "French and Indian war" is the American (geographically - there was no US) section of the war better known in Britain and Europe as the "Seven Years War".

It actually took place across the entire world and was effectively a contest between Britain and Prussia on one side and France and Austria with some help from Russia on the other. The war was fought for control of colonies, trade, resources, territory in Europe. It was the first great Imperial war and could claim to be the first World War with fighting taking place on 3 continents and nearly all the oceans.

Victory in the Seven Years War was a massive boost to Britain, greatly expanding the Empire physically and politically. It resulted in British control of the French colonies in the New World and a massive reduction of the French presence in India - which was a much more important theatre for Britain than the relative backwater of French Canada - and with the destruction of the French navy British sea power would rise and become dominant until the 1920's.

Spain also came out of the war well - timing it's entry near the end and getting Louisiana from France but giving Florida to Britain. Prussia didn't gain any lands but having beaten Austria (the Holy Roman Emperor) their influence and power in the German states rose massively - a rise which eventually ends with the formation of modern Germany from those states.

The F+I bit of the war removed the threat of French invasion from the colonies in America and gave Britain access to new lands, trade and resources - but a series of deals with native tribes to prevent settlement angered the members of the 13 colonies who thought they would get a wind fall from conquered land and Britain now also had to govern former French citizens in Canada - (a problem that Canada still has today!), many of the tax rises and laws passed leading up to the US revolution were the result of this massively expensive and complex war.

Answer 2

First, it was a war between the French and English. Each side wanted more land. Without the war taxes would most likely not be ensued. There would also be no U.S. This war brought about much debt/ taxes had to be issued. Eventually, it led to the American Revolution.

Answer 3

The French and Indian Wars taught the colonists how to fight together for a common cause. It gave training to George Washington that was very advantageous to him during the American Revolutionary War. It curtailed a lot of the native attacks they had previously been plagued by as well. On the negative side, the money Britain had to pay to fight the war became the main bone of contention between the colonists and the motherland.

Answer 4

First the French were largely forced to west of the Mississippi River after losing the war. They no longer threatened the 13 British Colonies east of the Appalachian mountains. The British had a large bill for fighting the war and they felt the Colonists should pay up. The Colonists did not want to pay taxes to pay for the French and Indian War and they wanted to settle west of the Appalachian mountains as the land in the east was getting crowded (the British said no to the Colonists going west as that was land promised to the Native Americans for their help in fighting the war and it was off limits to the Colonists). The Colonists who did not have to worry about France attacking them after the French and Indian War and wanted to be an independent nation, free from British control, across the Atlantic Ocean in England. The British and the Colonists winning the French and Indian War set the stage for the American Revolution and American Independence.

Answer 5

The historical significance is France becoming more friendly to American revolutionaries against the English, resulting in a military alliance during the Revolutionary War.

Answer 6

I think it was important because afterwards the debt in England doubled so they increased taxes in the 13 colonies...

Answer 7

The French mingled with their allies, the Indians, and soon developed the Indian language into the french language to create modern french.

Answer 8

so the british would have there freedom

Answer 9

Bbnk