Analyze The Causes Of The Seven Years War

The Seven Year’s War, which began in 1756, was a period in time in which many different countries from across the globe fought one another. This war had European origins in the sense that it began because land was taken from Austria “during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)” by Frederik II, the king of Prussia. During this war, there were two major sides with “France, Austria, Russia, Saxony, Sweden, and (after 1762) Spain on one side and Prussia, Great Britain, and Hanover on the other.” Because of the vast number of countries that fought in this war, some individuals view the Seven Years’ War as the very First World War.
While the war had a huge impact on European soil, across the Atlantic, there were other issues afoot with regards to the relationship between Britain and France. More specifically, the growing hostility between these two powerful nations and their claim over North America and its colonies. The overall sense of nationalism within British North America was often unclear due to the conflicts between the French and British. Moreover, during this time, the indigenous population would also be greatly affected by these two imperial powers.
While the war began in 1756, the conflict between the French and British started much earlier and became much more
apparent when both sides had claimed the Ohio Valley. In order to solidify their claim over the Ohio Valley, “the French built fortifications in the area.” The governor of Virginia then responded by sending in George Washington on a mission to expel the French but this was fruitless, as the French forces were much stronger and larger. Therefore, for many years to follow, the French would start to see a rise in victories but this was soon short-lived as the British forces began to dominate. This was apparent in how the British were able to use a naval offense and hence, had access to the Saint Lawrence. The French, on the other hand, tried their best to keep the war on land since this is where they were strongest. One of the events that aided in establishing the British victory was their takeover of Nova Scotia and the deportation of the Acadians. During the conflicts between the French and the British, the Acadians decided upon a position of neutrality. Unfortunately, this neutrality would eventually break showing how untenable it actually was. Once the British offenses captured the French fort Beauséjour, these forces would soon discover the Acadians were on the French side. For individuals who were supposed to be neutral, British subjects, they clearly showed how un-loyal they were to the Crown. By 1753, a plan was hatched such that the Acadians would be deported. Many would end up in British North America colonies and were not well received by the inhabitants (they were often viewed as burdens).
With the Treaty of Paris of 1763, the war came to an end. France would cede Canada to the British with the fate of Canada still remaining unclear at this stage of the war. For the French, Canada was the least valuable piece of land to surrender given it offered less in terms of financial gain. The French saw the Caribbean sugar colonies and their rights to fish off the coast as more important. Moreover, the size of Canada as well as where it was situated made it very expensive “to defend and maintain.” Therefore, Britain decision to take Canada from France was not only a strategic decision such to remove the chances of war against France, but seems to be something that France did not mind losing. While the Treaty of Paris would end the European part of the war, it did leave indigenous people angry. In essence, this claim to cede North America to the British angered the indigenous people because in their point of view, someone cannot cede something that was not their own to begin with.
The final issues were eventually “resolved” with the creation of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Because of this proclamation, alliances were established, indigenous land was protected from settlers with the creation of a proclamation line which signified that anything west of the line was indigenous territory and the European side had to involve the British, and overall, this Act was to establish the British Dominion.
The Seven Years’ War laid the foundation for what would eventually become British North America and hence, Canada.
With the victories of the British and the French ceding Canada to them, it can be posited that this was when the start of nationalism could begin. This part of North America was now a British territory and under the British, they could now create colonies in their vision. Moreover, it can be postulated that had the French won the Seven Years’ War, North America would not had followed the same path as it had done. In essence, the fact that the British won this war set off a chain of events leading to the fate of North America and the future of what Canada would
become.