French Indian War

[Ibrahim]

I still don't get what the fuzz is about. As Voltaire said: Canada? Just a few acres of snow...


What's the point of a thread that discusses trivialities such as losing an inconsequential continent only triple the size of Europe. Ah well, I suppose it makes the English feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They are a funny people like that. Needless to say, there's not the least bit of resentment or regret at the failure to understand what the America's could look like if properly settled. What the world would be like if North America were a French speaking continent, with perhaps, just as a daily reminder, maybe six million English speakers tucked away in some cold and distant corner, just to rub it in.

problem is, you are thinking like a 21st century person (not that that's wrong; I do too )*, but to understand why this war mattered (then as now) to many, you have to think like an 18th century person:

France, while its loss of Canada was not, on the surface, that bad (and financially, yes, it wasn't), was still humiliated over it; colonies, no matter the triviality, were still items of prestige. understandibally, the French were ****** at the British. Didn't help that the British had also siezed 90-99% of all French possessions in India as well, and had in fact destroyed their navy, ruined their merchantile fleet, and caused a severe credit crunch in 1759. thus, they all too naturally wanted revenge for all that-Canada included. understand that Europe was still, to an extent, dominated by relics of the code of chivalry. Honor was everything to the ruling class.

also, this war was hardly unimportant: the war practically made the US. after all. think about it: the UK had just humiliated France, Spain, and Holland (in a Bengal expedition in 1758), and had taken a crud load of land, especially in North America, by 1763. naturally, the humiliated party wanted to get back at the UK. the UK govt, being wise to this, had decided that a large army (70 infantry regiments, 20-30 cavalry reg., and almost 900 ships), would be needed to police all the new land.

problem was: where do they get the money? they're mired in debt from the SYW, the people in Ireland and Britain were already overtaxed, and there were surprisingly few military installations in Norh America. the solution? tax the colonies, and use their houses as impromptu Barracks: they were hardly taxed compraed to the mother country, and they were certainly wealthier, then as now. and, the Govt thought, the colonists would be grateful that there are soldiers who can cover their rears. why complain?

I leave it to you to figure out where that led instead. also, bear in mind that with the removal of the French threat to the 13 colonies, and the pacification of the native tribes in wake of Pontiac's rebellion (plus the royal proclamation line of 1763), removed a good deal of need on British forces. the proclamation line, and the Quebec Act of 1774, also didn't help with the result.


*that, and Voltaire was, based on what I have read, not exactly an authority on warfare or politics.