The British and the French fought throughout
the 17th and 18th centuries for an empire in North America.
Each hoped to discover gold and silver in America and reap the
profits of the fur trade. From 1754 to 1763, the French and
British fought each other in Europe and in America. England
used her superior naval power to dominate the French in the sea
lanes surrounding the American continent and eventually
defeated the French military in America. The war ended with the
Treaty of Paris in 1763. There were no battles held in
Illinois, and in 1764 British soldiers peacefully took over
Fort de Chartres. Illinois became part of the British empire in
North America and French Louisiana went to the Spanish. Still
smarting from their defeat by the British, the French would
fight them again as an American ally during the American
Revolution.
© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96