Between
1689 and 1763, there were no less than four colonial wars that involved
France, Britain, and Spain and their respective colonial possessions.
Rightly called “Wars for Empire”, these conflicts were extensions
of wars that had erupted on the European mainland or on the high seas
over balance of power, expansionism, mercantilism, and Indian alliances.
The first of these conflicts was King William’s War (1689-1697)
or the War of the League of Augsburg in Europe; Queen Anne’s War
(1702-1711) or the War of the Spanish Succession; King George’s
War (1744-1748) or the War of the Austrian Succession. The French and
Indian War was the last of the “world wars” to involve the
American colonies. One conflict in the 1730's, called the War of Jenkin’s
Ear, was almost entirely fought at sea between Britain and Spain.
The French and Indian War was the last great war for empire in between
Britain and France. Unlike previous colonial wars, this one was fought
with North American as the primary theater of operations and was France’s
last-ditch effort to save her dwindling New World possessions from the
English and her Native American allies. Beginning in 1754, a full two
years before hostilities broke out in Europe (and there called the Seven
Year’s War), this war proved to be among the most brutal and was
decided ultimately as a result of Britain’s Iroquois allies and
Prime Minister William Pitt’s decision to make North American the
center of fighting. Had it not been for the Iroquois Confederacy, the
outcome of this war could very well have ended differently.
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
State Museum and Store: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We are closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We are closed at noon Christmas Eve if it falls on Mon.-Thurs. and are closed all day if it falls on Fri.-Sun.
State Archives: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F, except state holidays; 2nd Sat. of each month, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 701.328.2091 or archives@nd.gov.
State Historical Society offices: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, except state holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: 701.328.2666
email: history@nd.gov
Social Media:
See all social media accounts
