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Seven Years War (1756-1763)

BACKGROUND - EUROPE
Diplomatic Revolution - shifting alliances in Europe
See Diplomatic Revolution post
France and Britain continue to be rivals
Prussia and Austria continue to be rivals
But France shifts alliance from Prussia to Austria
And Britain shifts alliance from Austria to Prussia
WARS
(Seven Years War was 1st global war)
EUROPEAN - SEVEN YEARS WAR
Continuation of the War of Austrian Succession
Conflict began when Frederick II (Prussia) overran Saxony 1756
Frederick's action activated the coalition (France, Austria, Russia, Sweden)
Coalition closed in on Frederick
Elizabeth (Russia) died 1762
Succeeded by weak Peter III (who liked Frederick)
Russia pulled out of war.
The rest of the powers distrusted each other and were tired of war
The coalition fell apart and war ended.
Peace in 1763
Prussia returned Saxony to Austria
Austrians recognized Prussian control over Silesia (taken in War of Austrian Succession)
NORTH AMERICA - FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
While fighting taking place in Europe, France and Britain fighting in North America
France and Britain competing over the Ohio Valley.
French strengthened their position
By building forts along the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Mississippi
But France concentrated efforts in Europe
While British left fighting in Europe to Prussians
War began 1755
When British attacked French stronghold near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
WAR IN INDIA
French East India Company and British East India Company
Competing for trade in India
Both trying to take advantage of declining power of the Mughals (India's Muslim rulers)
By making alliances with competing princes
By 1715, India had split into bickering independent kingdoms.
At stake: colonial dominance and millions of sterling in trade.
After 1756
Battle between Fr. and Br. in India coalesced with Seven Years War in Europe
Again France concentrated on battle in Europe.
End
British crushed French
Subdued resisting Indian states and strengthened its power
In 1858, British crown ruled India directly
No longer ruled through British East India Company
Called the British Raj
CARIBBEAN
British naval power overwhelmed the French and their Spanish allies in the Caribbean
END OF WAR
War ends with Peace of Paris 1763
France's navy was crippled by the war
Prussia: Frederick the Great's reputation went up
But Prussia weakened because of battles
Territorial shifts
Europe
Austria not able to take Silesia
But stopped Prussia from taking Saxony
Territory back to status quo ante bellum (status before the war)
North America
France gave up territories in mainland North America
British got Quebec
Louisiana divided at Mississippi River: west to Spain, east to British
Spanish Florida to British
India
Britain returned French trading ports but French fortifications were destroyed
Caribbean
Spain gets Cuba and gives up Florida
France keeps West Indian colonies of Martinique and Guadeloupe
