The Struggle for Empire 1754–63

In 1754, Britain attempted to occupy French territory west of the thirteen colonies in a desire to expand its colonial settlements to generate more raw materials for trade. This antagonized the French who kept several trading posts there. The French also had colonies in the midwest, Louisiana and eastern Canada. They were worried that an economically expansive Britain would turn its attention to their other territories, especially the Caribbean sugar colonies. War erupted and was first fought between colonial militias in the midwest, New York and Canada. Different Native American tribes either supported the British or the French. In the Caribbean, West Africa and India there were simultaneous battles between the French and British, with each side supported by different European allies. Finally, in 1763, the British were the victors and had taken the French territories in North America, West Africa, the Caribbean and India.