Topic 2.1: French and Indian War
The French and Indian War
South Carolina and the other American colonies became involved in the military and economic rivalry between the French and English. The economic policy of mercantilism was practiced by both the French and British to prevent colonies from trading with anyone except their mother country. The British practiced salutary neglect. The rivalry with the French was rooted in longstanding animosities and led to a series of wars in Europe and North America. The French and Indian War, the last in this series of wars, began in the colonies when the French moved into the Ohio River Valley. The war later spread to Europe where it was known as the Seven Years War. The French and Indian War was so named because Britain and their American colonists fought France and France’s Native allies.
The Cherokee War in South Carolina
Although South Carolina had little military involvement in the French and Indian War, the war led to the Cherokee War in South Carolina. (Thirty years before the French and Indian War, French fur traders had moved into the upstate region. English settlers were prompted to seek a treaty with the Cherokee to prevent them from befriending the French. The Cherokee interpreted this treaty to be an alliance, but the British saw it as an acknowledgement of British sovereignty (rule). Peace lasted for 30 years, but was broken during the French and Indian War.) Although the Cherokee favored the British, the British failed to protect the Cherokee when the French and their Indian allies attacked. Cherokee warriors, feeling cheated by the British, took possession of horses belonging to settlers. British settlers attacked and the Cherokee retaliated. The royal governor of South Carolina tried to control the Cherokee by stopping all trade and taking Cherokee peace representatives as hostages. The Cherokee War lasted about two years and resulted in many deaths among the Cherokee. The treaty that ended the French and Indian War forced the Cherokee to give up much of their land and created a boundary dividing the South Carolina colony and the Cherokee territory.
British Victory and It’s Effects
The French and Indian War ended with a British victory. France lost her possessions in North America and Spain lost control of Florida. A British-controlled Florida and the expansion of the indigo trade were both good results for South Carolina. However, the war changed the relationship of the colonies with the mother country, Great Britain. During the war the British gave up their policy of salutary neglect and attempted to enforce their mercantilist policies. The Sugar Act was a law designed to stop illegal trade with France and collect revenues to fund the war effort. Smugglers were be prosecuted in vice admiralty courts, which did not use juries. While colonists acknowledged the right of Parliament to control trade, they saw the vice admiralty courts as a violation of the right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers promised in the Magna Carta and English common law. More importantly, as a result of the war, Great Britain had a huge debt that they thought American colonists should pay.
South Carolina and the other American colonies became involved in the military and economic rivalry between the French and English. The economic policy of mercantilism was practiced by both the French and British to prevent colonies from trading with anyone except their mother country. The British practiced salutary neglect. The rivalry with the French was rooted in longstanding animosities and led to a series of wars in Europe and North America. The French and Indian War, the last in this series of wars, began in the colonies when the French moved into the Ohio River Valley. The war later spread to Europe where it was known as the Seven Years War. The French and Indian War was so named because Britain and their American colonists fought France and France’s Native allies.
The Cherokee War in South Carolina
Although South Carolina had little military involvement in the French and Indian War, the war led to the Cherokee War in South Carolina. (Thirty years before the French and Indian War, French fur traders had moved into the upstate region. English settlers were prompted to seek a treaty with the Cherokee to prevent them from befriending the French. The Cherokee interpreted this treaty to be an alliance, but the British saw it as an acknowledgement of British sovereignty (rule). Peace lasted for 30 years, but was broken during the French and Indian War.) Although the Cherokee favored the British, the British failed to protect the Cherokee when the French and their Indian allies attacked. Cherokee warriors, feeling cheated by the British, took possession of horses belonging to settlers. British settlers attacked and the Cherokee retaliated. The royal governor of South Carolina tried to control the Cherokee by stopping all trade and taking Cherokee peace representatives as hostages. The Cherokee War lasted about two years and resulted in many deaths among the Cherokee. The treaty that ended the French and Indian War forced the Cherokee to give up much of their land and created a boundary dividing the South Carolina colony and the Cherokee territory.
British Victory and It’s Effects
The French and Indian War ended with a British victory. France lost her possessions in North America and Spain lost control of Florida. A British-controlled Florida and the expansion of the indigo trade were both good results for South Carolina. However, the war changed the relationship of the colonies with the mother country, Great Britain. During the war the British gave up their policy of salutary neglect and attempted to enforce their mercantilist policies. The Sugar Act was a law designed to stop illegal trade with France and collect revenues to fund the war effort. Smugglers were be prosecuted in vice admiralty courts, which did not use juries. While colonists acknowledged the right of Parliament to control trade, they saw the vice admiralty courts as a violation of the right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers promised in the Magna Carta and English common law. More importantly, as a result of the war, Great Britain had a huge debt that they thought American colonists should pay.
Content information was obtained from the South Carolina state standards support document for eighth grade Social Studies. This document can be located at http://www.ed.sc.gov/agency/se/Instructional-Practices-and-Evaluations/documents/Grade8SupportDocument.pdf .All images were obtained from Google.com and were labeled as Free to Use or Share.