The Declaration of Independence
When in the course of human events . . .
1756-1763
(The Seven Years War)
The final Colonial War (1689-1763) was the French and Indian War, which is the name given to the American theater of a massive conflict involving Austria, England, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Sweden called the Seven Years War. The conflict was played out in Europe, India, and North America. In Europe, Sweden , Austria, and France were allied to crush the rising power of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The English and the French battled for colonial domination in North America, the Caribbean, and in India. The English did ultimately come to dominate the colonial outposts, but at a cost so staggering that the resulting debt nearly destroyed the English government. It was that debt that caused the escalation of tensions leading to the Revolutionary War. Parliament was desperate to obtain two objectives; first, to tax the colonies to recover monies expended on the battle over North America, and second to restore the profitability of the East India Company in an effort to recover monies spent on the battle over India.
The French and Indian War, as it was referred to in the colonies, was the beginning of open hostilities between the colonies and Gr. Britain. England and France had been building toward a conflict in America since 1689. These efforts resulted in the remarkable growth of the colonies from a population of 250,000 in 1700, to 1.25 million in 1750. Britain required raw materials including copper, hemp, tar, and turpentine. They also required a great deal of money, and so they provided that all of these American products be shipped exclusively to England (the Navigation Acts). In an effort to raise revenue and simultaneously interfere with the French in the Caribbean, a 6 pence tax on each gallon of molasses was imposed in 1733 (the Molasses Act, see note: The Sugar Act). Enforcement of these regulations became difficult, so the English government established extensive customs services, and vice-admiralty courts empowered to identify, try, and convict suspected smugglers. These devices were exclusive of, and superior to, the colonial mechanisms of justice.
The colonies were wholly interested in overcoming the French in North America and appealed to the King for permission to raise armies and monies to defend themselves.* Despite sincere petitions from the royal governors, George II was suspicious of the intentions of the colonial governments and declined their offer. English officers in America were also widely contemptuous of colonials who volunteered for service. A few of the men who signed the Declaration had been members of volunteer militia who, as young men, had been dressed down and sent home when they applied for duty. Such an experience was not uncommon. It led communities throughout the colonies to question British authorities who would demand horses, feed, wagons, and quarters — but deny colonials the right to fight in defense of the Empire, a right which they considered central to their self-image as Englishmen.
Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth GradeSubject:Social StudiesLesson Duration:90 MinutesCommon Core Standards:4.RI.1, 4.RI.2, 4.RI.3, 5.RI.1, 5.RI.2, 5.RI.3, 4.SL.1, 4.SL.1.a, 4.SL.1.c, 4.SL.2, 4.SL.4, 5.SL.1, 5.SL.1.a, 5.SL.1.c, 5.SL.2, 5.SL.4Additional Standards:National History Standards: K-4 Topic 2: 3A, 3B, 3D; K-4 Topic 3: 5A; US Era 2: 1B. National Geography Standards: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 17Thinking Skills:Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.Essential Question
Guiding Questions: What were they fighting for? Why did the American Indians fight? Why did the British and French want access to the land?
Objective
Student Objectives: Students Will…
• List one reason the American Indians who lived in the Ohio River Valley became involved
• List one reason the French wanted to control the Ohio River
Valley
• List one reason the British wanted to control the Ohio River Valley
Background
This is Unit 2 from the teacher’s guide “The French and Indian War 1754-1763.” It includes one lesson plan:
- “What Were They Fighting For?” has the students read about the motives of each of the three groups and do an oral report.
Critical Content: The American Indians living in the Upper Ohio River Valley used the land, forests and waterways to maintain a traditional lifestyle. They liked trading with the Europeans, but did not want them to settle their lands. The American Indians were fighting to maintain control of their land and their cultural future. The French claimed the Upper Ohio River Valley. They wanted to trade with the American Indians and control the area. The British also claimed the Upper Ohio River Valley. The British settlers wanted to farm the land, the British traders wanted to trade with the American Indians, and the British land speculators wanted to buy the land so they could make a profit selling it. It was clear there was going to be conflict.
See the “Related Lessons and Educational Materials” section for links to the other units in the teacher’s guide.
Preparation
The teacher should make copies of the student reading "What Were They Fighting For?"
Materials
The downloaded lesson plan includes an introduction (p 43), teacher instructions (p 44), and three student readings (p 45-47).
Download Lesson Plan - What Were They Fighting For?
The teacher background covers from the beginning of the war to the beginning of the American Revolution. For this unit read page 17, What Were They fighting For?
Download Teacher Background: The French and Indian War 1754-1763
This color map is optional. It shows the French and British colonies and the disputed area. It also shows where the American Indian Nations lived and where French and British forts were located.
Download Map: Indian Nations and French and Indian War Forts 1754-1760
Lesson Hook/Preview
Everyone wants and needs things to survive and be happy. However, sometimes one person’s wants and needs differ from another person’s wants and needs, leading to conflict. Write about one time you wanted something different than another person and what happened.
Procedure
1. Download the pdf of the lesson plan which includes the teacher instructions and the student readings.
2. Download the teacher background from the Materials section and read page 17.
3. Divide the class into three teams. Assign to each team one of the three groups – French, British or American Indian. Give each student a copy of the student reading.
4. Have the students read the student reading and identify the reasons their group (French, British or American Indian) wanted to control the Ohio River Valley and what they needed to accomplish this.
5. Have the team make an oral presentation about what they learned about their group's wants and needs.
6. Have each student complete a graphic organizer listing the three groups, each of the groups’ wants, and each of the groups’ needs.
7. As a math extension, graph the population of each of the groups at the start of the French and Indian War using this information: British: 1.5 million people, French: 70,000 people, American Indians in northeastern North America: 175,000
Vocabulary
Upper Ohio River Valley - the area drained by the rivers that flow into the Ohio River in what is now western Pennsylvania.
Neutral - When a nation or person does not support either side of a conflict.
Allies - People or groups that join together for a common cause.
Assessment Materials
Assessment Unit 2: What Were They Fighting For?
The assessment includes a competed graphic organizer, a graph, an oral presentation rubric, a graphic organizer rubric and a bar graph rubric.
Download the assessment document for information and three rubrics.
Assessment The French and Indian War 1754-1763 Unit 2: What Were They Fighting For?
Download Assessment
Supports for Struggling Learners
The teacher can help struggling readers by reading the student readings aloud.
Enrichment Activities
Complete the Math Extension activity found in the lesson plan.
Additional Resources
Fort Necessity National Battlefield web site
A Charming Field for an Encounter the park's handbook
Becoming George Washington a curriculum about George Washington in the French and Indian War
Related Lessons or Education Materials
“The French and Indian War 1754-1763” Teacher’s Education Kit is broken into eight units and a Teacher Background section. Units 1 - 6 chronologically follow the war from start to finish, including how the war set the stage for the American Revolution.
Links to the other units:
Unit 1: Who Were the People Involved?
Unit 2: What Were They Fighting For?
Unit 3: How Did the Conflict Begin? (This includes two lessons on George Washington)
Unit 4: How Did the War Progress?
Unit 5: How Did the Conflict End? What Were the Consequences?
Unit 6: How Did the French and Indian War Set the Stage for the American Revolution?
Unit 7: Biography Cards (there are nine American Indian, nine French, nine British biographies)
Unit 8: Primary Documents and Artifacts
Introduction
French and Indian War Historic Sites in Western Pennsylvania
Contact Information
Email us about this lesson plan