What did the French do to stop the British from colonizing the Ohio River Valley?
After being defeated by Britain, in the Treaty of Paris, France ceded control of the entire Ohio region without consulting its native allies. Colonies such as Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed some of the westward lands by their original charters.
How did France try to protect the Ohio River Valley?
To protect their claims, the French built a series of forts from Lake Erie south along the Ohio River. The British wanted to capture the forts and force the French to leave.
How did the French try and keep the British out?
France gave all its western lands to Spain to keep the British out. Indians still controlled most of the western lands, except for some Spanish colonies in Texas and New Mexico. The Treaty of Paris was the treaty that ended the French and Indian War .
What did the French build to control the Ohio River?
Built in 1753, Fort Le Boeuf was the first French fort built in the Ohio Territory. Following the British victory in the French and Indian War more forts were constructed along the Ohio River during the American Revolution.
Why was the Ohio Valley so important to the British?
The British colonists thought the Ohio River Valley belonged to them. Virginia’s charter granted it land all the way to the Pacific Ocean. At the start of the French and Indian war, the British had more than 1 million colonists. And the population in the colonies was quickly growing.
Why did the French have so many forts in the Ohio River Valley?
Wanting to limit British influence along their frontier, the French built a string of forts from Lake Erie towards the forks of the Ohio (present-day Pittsburgh). While French and British officials maneuvered military forces about, they also attempted to curry favor with American Indians living in the region.
How did the French trade with the Ohioans?
Starting in this decade, British traders began to cross the Appalachian Mountains to trade with the Ohio Country’s Native Americans. From 1744 until 1748, Great Britain and France were engaged in King George’s War. During the conflict, Great Britain managed to blockade France’s colonies in North America.
When did the French claim the Ohio Country?
De Bienville carried out the mission in the summer of 1749. He made his way from Montreal to the headwaters of the Ohio River (modern-day Pittsburgh) and proceeded down the river. De Bienville carried several lead plates with him. On these plates were pronouncements that laid claim to the Ohio Country for France.
What did the French do in Cleveland Ohio?
Cleveland’s French population also formed numerous social organizations, including La Table Francaise, Cercle des Conferences Francaises, and La Gauloise. Many French organizations continue to flourish in Ohio today.
Who was the French explorer who explored the Ohio Valley?
René-Robert Cavalier, better known as Robert La Salle, claimed to have explored as far as the Falls of the Ohio at present-day Louisville in 1669. No records to survive to verify his account, but his expedition became the basis for the French claim to the valley. In the following years, French fur traders began moving into the valley.