The Albany Plan of Union and the War that Followed
Adapted from: Albany Plan of the Union and A Clash of Empires the French and Indian War
Option A
Lexile: 1140
Word Count: 491
Vocabulary: intercolonial, displease, fortify, unused, colonist, flare, neglect, escalate, renew
Rising Tensions and the Albany Conference
In 1753, tensions were escalating in America because France and Great Britain were close to war over land claims. A group of Mohawk Indians went to New York City and ended their alliance with the British colonies and the Iroquois nations. They were displeased with land fraud and diplomatic neglect, so the British ordered a meeting in Albany to fix these issues and restore the alliance.
The Albany Plan of Union
Seven colonies (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) sent groups to Albany in June 1754. In Albany, they met with around 150 Iroquois. Albany had been a place for intercolonial meetings before, but now it was urgent because Britain needed the Iroquois to at least stay neutral in a possible war with France. The delegates aimed to renew their alliance with the Iroquois by giving speeches and presents.
While in Albany, they also tried to create a union among the colonies. Benjamin Franklin had proposed a union in 1751, and published his famous ‘Join, or Die’ cartoon in 1754 to warn about the dangers of division. Franklin, part of the Pennsylvania group, drafted ideas for colonial union and shared them with friends. Some other delegates were ready to discuss a union, but many colony governments did not want their independence limited.
Despite this, the delegates made a committee to draft a plan of union, starting with Franklin’s ideas. They suggested creating a Grand Council, elected by the colonies, and a President General appointed by the King. This council would manage treaties, land deals, and defense.
The Albany Plan of Union aimed at problems on the eve of the French and Indian War but was largely ignored by colonial governments and Britain. The plan was seen as a threat to royal control.
The Struggle for the Ohio Valley
Moreover, tensions grew in 1753 when the French fortified routes to the Ohio River, claiming the region. Virginia and Pennsylvania wanted this area too, as their traders were active there. Virginia’s governor, Robert Dinwiddie, sent George Washington and his men to push the French out.
This sparked a series of conflicts beginning in 1754, as George Washington led efforts to build defenses and assert British control in the Ohio Valley. Fighting continued throughout the French and Indian War, ending with British victory in 1763. Soon after, violence flared up again during Pontiac’s War, as Native American groups resisted British expansion. In response, the British government issued the Proclamation of 1763, banning land sales west of the Appalachians—a move that frustrated colonists who had hoped to claim lands in the region.
After the French and Indian War, Britain won but faced internal tensions which eventually led to revolution. Britain expected colonies to help pay its war debt with more taxes and this was not well received by many colonists who were unused to a style of more direct rule.
Option B
Lexile: 1020
Word Count: 418
Vocabulary: tense, renew, frontier, delegate, cartoon, unfair, unite, colony, upset
Rising Tensions and the Albany Conference
In 1753, there was trouble between France and Great Britain in North America because both wanted control over the land. This made things tense for the people living on the frontier. Around that time, some Mohawk Indians went to New York City to say they were ending their alliance with the British. They were upset over issues like unfair land deals. The British got worried and called a meeting in Albany in 1754 to fix these problems and strengthen their partnership.
The Albany Plan of Union
Seven colonies (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) sent representatives to this meeting, which is now called the Albany Congress. It was a big deal because many colonies came together to try to solve these issues. Britain needed to make sure the Iroquois would not side with France if war happened.
At the meeting, the delegates tried to renew their alliance with the Iroquois by giving speeches and gifts. Besides working on their issues with the Iroquois, they also talked about uniting the colonies. Benjamin Franklin had an idea for this, and he had drawn a cartoon that showed a snake in pieces to show how dangerous being divided was.
Franklin brought his plan for joining the Northern Colonies to the meeting. Some colonies, like Massachusetts and Connecticut, were open to discussing this because they had experience working together. However, others were not sure about giving up any control. Despite this, the delegates tried to come up with a plan for a union. They wanted to form a council where each colony would have representatives, and a President General appointed by the king would have powers like making treaties with Indians.
The Struggle for the Ohio Valley
Even though it was a good idea, the plan called the Albany Plan of Union didn’t win support from the colonies or Britain. When the delegates went home, the plan was mostly ignored.
Meanwhile, in 1753, France had strengthened its hold on the Ohio region. This worried Virginia and Pennsylvania, who also wanted that area. Virginia’s governor sent George Washington, a young officer, to deal with it. Over the next few years, Washington defended the frontier, but in 1763, conflicts with Indians led to more troubles.
Britain eventually won the war and pushed France out, but they had a huge debt and wanted the colonies to pay more taxes for their defense. This caused tensions that would eventually lead to big changes.