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The Battle for America: The French and Indian War with Dr. Richard Bell

The Battle for America: The French and Indian War with Dr. Richard Bell


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The French and Indian War was a war for America’s future, an epic struggle between Britain and France to control the American continent. Unfolding over the two decades before the Revolution, the French and Indian War sowed the seeds of the imperial crisis that would soon culminate in American independence.

In all the centuries of wars fought between the European superpowers before 1740, North America had never been more than a sideshow. But in the 1750s all that changed as it took center stage in the world’s first truly global war, one so massive that it spanned five continents: from India to Indiana, from the Caribbean to Canada, from Buenos Aires to Belgium, and from Pennsylvania to the Philippines.

In Europe and nearly everywhere else, this bitter contest among the great empires of Britain, France, and Spain is known as the Seven Years War (1756–1763). Here in the United States we call it the French and Indian War.

Dr. Richard Bell focuses attention on the parts of this global conflict that took place on American soil. He tracks the shifting fortunes of the several European forces and their native and colonial American allies. He examines the peace treaty that Britain and France finally signed in 1763 to bring this destructive war to an end, a treaty that surrendered French Canada to the British and forced the French out of North America.

He also examines the peculiar legacy of American colonists’ involvement: how their participation reinforced a sense of themselves as essential partners in the British Empire and sowed the seeds of the imperial crisis that would culminate just 20 years later in American independence.

Dr. Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has won more than a dozen teaching awards, including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar Award. Professor Bell is author of the new book "Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home," which was shortlisted for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 19 reviews
95%
(18)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
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0%
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M
M.L. (Queens, US)

Excellent!! Informative, well presented and enjoyable! I’m looking forward to additional presentations from Dr. Bell. Thank you Dr. Bell!!

M
Mary C Cope (Birmingham, US)
The French and Indian War

I must have slept through history class when this was covered. If it had been presented as intestingly as Dr. Bell presents his material, I would have stayed awake and learned something.

V
Vivienne (San Diego, US)
History comes to life

Colonial America and the relationship between Britain, Spain, France, First People, and colonists come to vibrant and dynamic life in this seminar. Dr. Bell brought into sharp relief the colonial era battle for America among European empires and the roles of the colonists and Native people in that struggle. Fascinating, fast-paced, very well thought out, great visuals, and of course Dr. Bell's usual enthusiasm for the material and great engagement with participants.

b
barrett freedlander (Washington, US)
?

Interesting talk. Well organized. Easy to understand the chronology

S
Suzette Shelmire (Oxford, US)
French and Indian war

I am always amazed at the poor education I recieved at all my schools when it comes to the American revolution! As usual Dr Bell set me straight and his talk was entertaining as well as a wonderful education!

Customer Reviews

Based on 19 reviews
95%
(18)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
M
M.L. (Queens, US)

Excellent!! Informative, well presented and enjoyable! I’m looking forward to additional presentations from Dr. Bell. Thank you Dr. Bell!!

M
Mary C Cope (Birmingham, US)
The French and Indian War

I must have slept through history class when this was covered. If it had been presented as intestingly as Dr. Bell presents his material, I would have stayed awake and learned something.

V
Vivienne (San Diego, US)
History comes to life

Colonial America and the relationship between Britain, Spain, France, First People, and colonists come to vibrant and dynamic life in this seminar. Dr. Bell brought into sharp relief the colonial era battle for America among European empires and the roles of the colonists and Native people in that struggle. Fascinating, fast-paced, very well thought out, great visuals, and of course Dr. Bell's usual enthusiasm for the material and great engagement with participants.

b
barrett freedlander (Washington, US)
?

Interesting talk. Well organized. Easy to understand the chronology

S
Suzette Shelmire (Oxford, US)
French and Indian war

I am always amazed at the poor education I recieved at all my schools when it comes to the American revolution! As usual Dr Bell set me straight and his talk was entertaining as well as a wonderful education!