Why do Americans call the Seven Years' War "French and Indian War"?

[Julie4]

I am surprised that the Americans call it that because it is a conflict that will spread not only in America but also in Europe and India, and even on certain islands. and will change global geopolitics.

Updates

+1 y

Of course the two great powers that were at war were the British and the French, and yes it was in America that the war between the French and British colonies began.

[nightdrot]

This will be a quick answer.

Yes, it is kind of unusual that the 7 Years War is called, by Americans, the "French and Indian War." However, the reason is pretty forward.

Specifically, that while it was a wider European war, from the American - or colonial as it then was - perspective, it was the first time that a European power had explicitly aligned with the native population of North America. Prior to that time, it had been Europeans against the native populations of the lands they were attempting to colonize.

Now, actually, to be sure, there had been cooperation between native peoples and the Europeans. However, generally, those had been cases of Europeans aligning with one set or tribe of native populations against another native tribe or population and its native opponents. I. e., Europeans playing on native population rivalries.

Also, if truth be told, there was some cases of Europeans backing one native population against another - the other itself having a European patron. However, the alignment between the tribes was not explicit.

The long story short being that this was, in fact, not that unusual. However, in the 7 Years War, for the first time - from an American (again, then colonial) perspective - a European power had openly allied with native tribes against Europeans. This was not a game of catspaw, but flat out open war. To the North American colonials, this came as something of a shock and thus the "French and Indian War."

For what it is worth, in the contemporary world, unless you are talking to a student of history, most Americans would give you a blank stare if you mentioned the "French and Indian War" (or for that matter the Seven Years' War) to them. For Americans, popularly if somewhat parochially, history did not begin until 1776 - with a nod to Columbus in 1492. (All those years in between were someone else.) Before that, it was all that "European colonial stuff.

Just to add, on a personal note, when I have occasion to refer to it - which suffice to say is NOT often at all - I call it the 7 Years War. When I was a kid, it seemed weird to refer to a war by the name of the two sides who were allied. So as a boy I asked a teacher of mine why they called it the "French and Indian War" and thus, the explanation you see above. I will be sure to thank Mr. Stevens, my 7th grade teacher, on your behalf the next time I see him.

[Julie4]

Ok I understand now, thanks for the explanation and you will thank your teacher for me haha.

To be honest I think a lot of Europeans don't know about this war apart from history buffs I guess lol.

Anyway, I hope you and your family are doing well. take care of yourself and yours 😊

Ravi d'avoir de vos nouvelles 😉

[nightdrot]

If I ever see Mr. Stevens again, I will be sure to send along your thanks.

Hope all is well with you and yours as well and...

Content de t'entendre aussi! (I hope I translated that right.)

[Julie4]

Your translation is good haha. if one day you want to learn a little French you or a member of your family let me know, I will help you. 🙂

[nightdrot]

Merci beaucoup!! (See? I did it twice now!!)

Always great chatting with you!

[Anonymous]

My guess is as follows.

At the time of the war America was firmly a British colony with Americans who were effectively British citizens loyal to the crown.

The British fought the French in North America, and both sides made extensive use of their various American Indian allies to prosecute war upon one another.

So if you were a British (American) citizen who are you fighting against? The French and Indians. Hence the French and Indian War.

[Julie4]

during the Seven Years' War, North America was essentially under French domination, the British having only "13 colonies".

For me the problem with this name is that it seems to limit the conflict to America when it was a broader conflict.

[Opinion Owner]

Well sure but lots of wars have names that don’t make any sense.

[Curmudgeon]

Probably because that was the only theater of a much larger war that was on (North) American soil affected the (British) American colonists.

[WraithRogue04]

Probably due to the fact the French joined forces with various Indian coalitions to fight against the Colonies/British and a much smaller amount of Indian forces.

[juliawright]

Because the French and the Indians were the people fought in America.