Overview

Diplomatic and transnational interactions during this period shaped the development of colonial America. From European competition and Indigenous alliances to trade networks and imperial wars, global forces helped define the balance of power in North America.

Key Themes and Events

• European Rivalries: Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Britain vied for dominance in the Americas. Their competition led to territorial claims, shifting alliances, and frequent wars that affected colonial development.
• Native Diplomacy and Conflict: Indigenous groups engaged in diplomacy with European powers to preserve autonomy and influence trade. The Iroquois Confederacy was particularly adept at balancing alliances with the French and British.
• The Columbian Exchange: A transatlantic transfer of crops, animals, people, and diseases that reshaped societies. It brought new goods to the Americas and Europe but also devastated Native populations through disease.
• Imperial Wars: Major conflicts like King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War, and the French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War) altered territorial control and strained colonial relations with Britain.
• Treaty of Paris (1763): Ended the French and Indian War, giving Britain control of much of North America. It increased British debt and led to new taxes on colonists—fueling revolutionary tensions.
• International Trade: Colonial economies were tied to Atlantic trade. Imports and exports connected the colonies to global markets, and policies like mercantilism shaped their economic and diplomatic standing.

Quick Tip

Understand how international conflict shaped colonial development and British-American relations. Know the sequence and impact of imperial wars, Indigenous diplomacy, and the Treaty of Paris.