In the 1750s, Britain and France had colonies in North America. The British wanted to settle in the Ohio River Valley and to trade with the Native Americans who lived there. The French built forts to protect their trade with the Indians. In 1754, George Washington led an army against the French. He was defeated.
Britain declared war on France. The war for control of the valley was called the French and Indian War. Most American Indians in the region were allies of the French. The American Indians liked the French because they traded but did not settle on the land.
In 1754, a congress of the British colonies met in Albany, New York. Benjamin Franklin thought the colonies should work together to defeat France. Each colony would still have its own government. They would also create one government together to decide important issues. His idea was called the Albany Plan of Union. The colonists rejected it. They did not want to join together under one government.
In 1757, Britain sent more soldiers to North America. This helped defeat the French in Canada. In 1763, Britain and France ended the war and signed the Treaty of Paris. France gave Britain control of Canada and most of the land east of the Mississippi River.
British soldiers stayed in the Ohio River Valley. The Indians wanted the soldiers to leave. An Ottawa chief named Pontiac led the Indians in a war against the British. This was called Pontiac’s Rebellion. The British defeated the Indians in less than a year.
To avoid more conflict with American Indians, Britain made the Proclamation of 1763. It recognized the Indians’ right to the land. It did not allow colonists west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists were angry. They wanted to settle on the land. They did not want the British soldiers to live among them.
