Wars for Empire - a Short Time Line

The Wars for Empire were four wars fought in North America from 1689 to 1763. The wars were fought between England and France over control of North America. Both sides had Indian allies as the Indian tribes were not unified in support of either side.

1689 The English colonies in North America extended along the Atlantic Coast. The French colonies were north of the English colonies along the shores of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. France also had forts in the Mississippi River Valley area. Both countries claimed the lands that bordered on the inland waterways, but the Indians actually controlled the territory. Both the French and the English traded with the Indians.

1689 King William's War began. It came from a struggle that had been going on in Europe called the War of the League of Augsburg. King William's War began when Montreal was raided by some Indians who were allied to the English.

1690 The French and their Indian allies retaliated against New York and the New England colonies.

9 February 1690 The French attacked Schenectady, New York.

1690 The English seized Port Royal. They also launched an unsuccessful attack on Quebec.

27 March 1691 The French attacked Salmon Falls, New Hampshire

1691 The English again attacked Quebec unsuccessfully.

1691 The French recaptured Port Royal.

30 September 1697 King William's War ended when the Treaty of Ryswick was signed. All the land that England and France had lost during the war was given back to each country as part of the treaty.

1702 Queen Anne's War started as a result of the War of Spanish Succession. This war began when the French and their Indian allies attacked some New England settlements in the frontier.

10 August 1703 The Abenakis Indians raided some settlements in Maine.

28-29 February 1704 The French attacked Deerfield, Massachusetts. 28 July 1704 The English retaliated by attacking Acadia.

1707 The English attacked Acadia again. England also became a part of Britain this year.

21 September 1708 The French captured St. Johns bringing the eastern shore under French control.

1710 Britain captured Port Royal.

1713 The Treaty of Utrecht ended Queen Anne's War. As part of the treaty Britain received Newfoundland from France and the French territory around the Hudson Bay. The boundaries of the land were not clearly defined by the treaty.

1744 King George's War started as a result of the War of the Austrian Succession. The war began in North America when France tried to unsuccessfully capture Nova Scotia.

1745 The New England colonial troops captured the French fortress of Louisbourg. They were under the command of William Pepperrell.

1748 King George's War ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Each side received the land back that they had lost during the war. This involved the trading of the city of Madras in India for Fort Louisburg and Cape Breton Island in North America.

1753 The French built a chain of forts along the Allegheny River to strengthen their claim to the area.

1754 The French and Indian War started and it continued in Europe as the Seven Years' War in Europe. The French and Indian War

1754 Lieutenant Colonel George Washington was sent by the lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, to demand that the French leave their forts along the Allegheny River and return to Canada. The French defeated Washington at Fort Necessity.

1755 General Edward Braddock led a group of British troops to Fort Duquesne. George Washington was among the men. Braddock was from England, and he was unfamiliar with the North American War tactics. Ambush was often used as a method of warfare. Because of his unfamiliarity Braddock and many of his men were killed when they encountered the French at Fort Duquesne. Washington led the survivors to safety. 1756 The Marquis de Montcalm took charge of the French forces. He was able to capture the British Fort Oswego.

1756 William Pitt became the political leader in Britain. He sent many young officers to aid in the war in North America.

1757 Fort William Henry was destroyed by the French and their Indian allies.

1758 Louisbourg and Forts Frontenac and Duquesne were captured by British troops.

1759 Crown Point, and Forts Niagara and Ticonderoga were conquered by the British.

1759 General James Wolfe, of Britain, began attacking Quebec. After three months of fighting the French were defeated on the Plains of Abraham.

1760 Montreal was captured by British General Jeffery Amherst.

10 February 1763 The treaty of Paris was signed ending the war. Britain was given almost all of the French land in Canada and all of France's holdings east of the Mississippi River except New Orleans. Florida was also given to Britain. France kept St. Pierre and Miquelon, two islands south of Newfoundland and Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. Spain was given all of the lands West of the Mississippi.