366 : The Atlantic 



the balance of powers in Europe and very little by the outcome of 

 military and naval campaigns in far-ofJ America. The Treaty of Aix- 

 la-Chapelle in 1748 restored Louisburg to the French. 



France's continual involvement in European war always involved 

 her at the same time in a war between the colonies in America and 

 finally brought about the loss of her overseas empire which she had 

 worked so hard to establish. The French and Indian War, which 

 raged in America from 1755 to 1763, was the American aspect of 

 the Seven Years' War in Europe. Again Louisburg became the 

 object of attack in 1758. 



The young commanders, Amherst and Wolfe, led a force of 12,000 

 troops and a naval force in command of Boscawen was made up of 

 forty warships, manned by 8,000 sailors. This time the fall of Louis- 

 burg opened up the way for the successful attack on Quebec and 

 the St. Lawrence in the succeeding year. The Treaty of Paris of 1763 

 left Britain with the following claims recognized: Acadia, which 

 became Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, large parts of Canada, all the part 

 of Louisiana lying east of the Mississippi River. By this treaty, Eng- 

 land, also in exchange for restoring Havana, gained from Spain all 

 of Florida. 



All these wars that involved the American colonies of the Euro- 

 pean powers as well as the later wars that involved the United States 

 had certain features in common. It will be well to summarize these 

 here. This will avoid the need of raising the same points repeatedly 

 in connection with each new war or set of battles. Also we have to- 

 day certain ideas that do not apply to most of Atlantic history; in 

 fact, they prevent an understanding of events. 



First, then, is the fact that the wars fought around and across the 

 Atlantic have been fought over the control of Atlantic trade. The 

 sinking or capture of trading vessels, the impressment of seamen or 

 other violent interference with trade have usually been the immedi- 

 ate causes of the outbreak or declaration of war. It is often supposed 

 that the Civil War was a purely domestic quarrel and that it was en- 

 tirely fought and decided by large armies meeting in a long series of 

 land battles. Yet we shall see presently how control of the interna- 

 tional cotton trade was an essential element in the war; that the 

 economy of Europe, particularly of England, was violently affected 

 by the struggle; that England paid a large idemnity for getting in- 

 volved and that naval battles and blockade of the southern ports 

 were crucial in determining the outcome of the war. 



The declaration of war was a formality often postponed or dis- 



