Exploros | The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War

Students explore the French and Indian War—a conflict that set the stage for the American Revolution. They will explore a map of how French and English territories changed before and after the war, compare the French and English colonies, and learn details about the causes and consequences of the war.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Overview

In this experience, students explore the French and Indian War—a conflict that set the stage for the American Revolution. They will explore a map of how French and English territories changed before and after the war, compare the French and English colonies, and learn details about the causes and consequences of the war.

Objectives:

Explain how the rivalry between Britain and France and conflict over the Ohio Valley led to the French and Indian War in North America.
Describe the power shift that occurred after the war.

In this activity, you will explore the French and Indian War as background to protests that led to the American Revolutionary War.

Objectives

Explain how the rivalry between Britain and France and conflict over the Ohio Valley led to the French and Indian War in North America.
Describe the power shift that occurred after the war.

The French and Indian War was a conflict fought in North America, with Great Britain on one side and the French and Native Americans on the other. It was part of a larger, global conflict between European powers called the Seven Years War. The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763. (You might notice that is nine years of war, not seven. This war began two years before the French and British officially declared the war known as The Seven Years’ War.)

North American Colonization from 1497 to 1763

Click through the map slideshow.

If the French and Indian War ended in 1763, which side do you think won the war?

A) France and the Indians
B) Great Britain

Students will notice that from 1650 to 1763 the French territory became slowly smaller and eventually disappeared in 1763, while the British territory became larger and larger. Students will likely conclude that the British won the war.

You may want to point out that Britain and France were involved in conflicts before the Seven Years War. With each one, France slowly lost territory.

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