European Rivalry in the Caribbean in the 18th Century

European rivalry in the Caribbean in the eighteenth century

Relative positions of the European powers in the Caribbean
On the eighteenth century Spain,France,British,Denmark and Holland had possession of many island in the Caribbean
In 1700 The British colonies were more valuable that the French because of more land and higher population rate ,but actually the French were more valuable for the amount of land and the rich soil Naval power
British had an advantage over the French because of the possession of 2 naval bases in the Caribbean Economic aims of the powers
West indies had no say in policies which involved them in war
Britain and France both wanted to enlarge their empires so it became worth fighting

The effect of the eighteenth-century wars on the West Indies
There were fire major wars in the eighteenth century & occupied 34years of fighting The war of Spanish succession 1702 to 1713
It was a European war arising from the French to claim the vacant throne of Spain. The war of Jenkins ear 1739
This was a purely Caribbean war.
Spanish coastguards took all goods from the British ships
The rulers of Spain and France were family members and bourbons
The war of Australian succession 1740 to 1748

The seven years’ war, 1756 to 1763
The biggest colonial war in history. A very important war in the west Indian history
William Pitt, the British leader, saw the colonial conflicts as the key to building a vast British empire
Spain joined France against England, and for the rest of the war Britain concentrated on seizing French and Spanish territories in other parts of the world.

The war of American independence 1775 to 1783

The United States and the Caribbean in eighteenth century The position in 1783