THE Seven Years War (1756 to 1763) was a conflict between England and France over land in North America and the Asian continent. It also involved Prussia, Austria, Portugal and Spain.
The war spread across three continents and was fought as much in Europe as in America and Asia. That's why it is considered the first world conflict.
As a result of this war, France loses its colonial territories, Prussia emerges as a European power and England, winner of the conflict, becomes the most powerful country in the world.
Countries involved in the Seven Years War
There were two main fronts of war: the first front, in Europe, between Prussia and Austria. These two nations still had not resolved their territorial differences after the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and they faced each other again.
The second front of the conflict took place in America and India and is related to the colonial rivalry between Great Britain, France and Spain.
Since 1754, France and England faced each other in America for control of the Ohio Valley and, on this occasion, the French were supported by various indigenous tribes, against the English.
For its part, Spain supported France, while Portugal remained neutral. The Spaniards took the opportunity to attack and occupy the Colonia do Sacramento, in South America, which at the time belonged to the Portuguese.
Seven Years War Timeline
Causes of the Seven Years War
The Seven Years War occurred because of territorial disputes in both America and Europe. England, France and Spain fought on the American continent; in Europe, these same countries, plus Austria, Prussia, the Swedish Empire, the Russian Empire and Spain.
France and England wanted to increase their possessions in America and as there were no defined borders, friction was constant. For its part, France wanted to guarantee its hegemony on the European continent, something that always made England uneasy, because a strong France meant a weak England.
The feud begins in August 1756, when King Frederick II of Prussia invades and defeats Saxony. In response, in January 1757, the Holy Roman Empire, led by Empress Maria Teresa of Habsburg, declared war on Prussia.
In the Caribbean, naval battles take place between the Royal English Navy against the Spanish and French. Meanwhile, in North America, the French were losing Quebec and suffering a defeat in the Great Lakes region, for the British.
There were intense battles in the border regions between Prussia and Austria such as Silesia, Bohemia and Saxony.
Read too:The Thirteen Colonies and the Formation of the United States
End and aftermath of the Seven Years War
France was the great loser in the Seven Years' War and England the undisputed victor. In Europe, Prussia also strengthens itself as a powerful state against Austria.
Two treaties ended the conflict in 1763: the Treaty of Paris and that of Hubertusburg.
The Treaty of Paris determined the territorial organization of North and Central America between France, England and Spain:
- France yields the Canada and part of the Antilles to the English. In turn, the British return to France the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
- In the Caribbean, the islands of St. Vincent, Tobago and Dominica became British colonies, while the French were left with St. Lucia.
- The French cede the Louisiana territory to Spain.
- Spain delivers Florida to the British and in exchange, receives the island of Cuba from them.
- Spain returns Colonia do Sacramento and the island of São Gabriel, both in present-day Uruguay, to the Portuguese.
Already by the Treaty of Hubertusburg, Austria recognized Prussia's sovereignty over previously conquered regions.
United States Independence
England won the conflict, but faced a serious financial crisis. For this reason, it intensifies the taxes on the 13 Colonies, in order to cover the expenses generated by the battle in America.
Participation in battles and rejection of new fees, however, strengthen military training and political conscience of the colonies, who started to fight against the English laws and articulate the movement that would culminate in independence in the United States.
