page_title: Seven Years' War
section_title: Strategies
hierarchical_section_title: Seven Years' War / Strategies
caption_attribution_description: English: A view of Miramichi, a French settlement in the Gulf of St. Laurence, destroyed by Brigadier Murray detached by General Wolfe for that purpose, from the Bay of Gaspe Vue de Miramichi establissement Francois dans le Golfe de St. Laurent, détruit par le Brigadier Murray, détaché a cet effet de la Baye de Gaspé, par le Général Wolfe / / drawn on the spot by Capt. Hervey Smyth; etched by Paul Sandby; retouched by P. Benazech. Richard H. Brown Revolutionary War Map Collection, The Boston Public Library Français&#160;: Vue de Miramichi establissement Francois dans le Golfe de St. Laurent, détruit par le Brigadier Murray, détaché a cet effet de la Baye de Gaspé, par le Général Wolfe
context_page_description: The Seven Years' War was a global conflict arising largely from issues left unresolved by the War of the Austrian Succession. These included colonial rivalries between Britain and France, particularly in North America, as well as territorial disputes between Prussia and Austria, which wanted to regain Silesia after it was captured by the former in the previous war.
  In a realignment of traditional alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Prussia became part of a coalition led by Britain, which also included long-time Prussian competitor Hanover. At the same time, Austria ended centuries of conflict by allying with France, which was deeply concerned with the growing power of Britain and wished to curtail it. France and Austria were joined by Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. In 1762, Spain aligned formally with the group, attacking Portugal in 1762. Other smaller German states either joined the Seven-Years War or supplied mercenaries.
context_section_description: For much of the eighteenth century, France approached its wars in the same way. It would let colonies defend themselves or would offer only minimal help (sending them limited numbers of troops or inexperienced soldiers), anticipating that fights for the colonies would most likely be lost anyway. This strategy was to a degree forced upon France: geography, coupled with the superiority of the British navy, made it difficult for the French navy to provide significant supplies and support to overseas colonies. Similarly, several long land borders made an effective domestic army imperative for any French ruler. Given these military necessities, the French government, unsurprisingly, based its strategy overwhelmingly on the army in Europe: it would keep most of its army on the continent, hoping for victories closer to home. The plan was to fight to the end of hostilities and then, in treaty negotiations, to trade territorial acquisitions in Europe to regain lost overseas possessions (as had happened in, e.g., the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1632)). This approach did not serve France well in the war, as the colonies were indeed lost, and although much of the European war went well, by its end France had few counterbalancing European successes.
  The British—by inclination as well as for practical reasons—had tended to avoid large-scale commitments of troops on the continent. They sought to offset the disadvantage of this in Europe by allying themselves with one or more continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies, particularly France. By subsidising the armies of continental allies, Britain could turn London's enormous financial power to military advantage. In the Seven Years' War, the British chose as their principal partner the most brilliant general of the day, Frederick the Great of Prussia, then the rising power in central Europe, and paid Frederick substantial subsidies for his campaigns. This was accomplished in the diplomatic revolution of 1756, in which Britain ended its long-standing alliance with Austria in favour of Prussia, leaving Austria to side with France.  In marked contrast to France, Britain strove to prosecute the war actively in the colonies, taking full advantage of its naval power. The British pursued a dual strategy – naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, and rapid movement of troops by sea. They harassed enemy shipping and attacked enemy colonies, frequently using colonists from nearby British colonies in the effort.
  The Russians and the Austrians were determined to reduce the power of Prussia, the new threat on their doorstep, and Austria was anxious to regain Silesia, lost to Prussia in the War of the Austrian Succession. Along with France, Russia and Austria agreed in 1756 to mutual defence and an attack by Austria and Russia on Prussia, subsidized by France.
caption: British raid on French settlement of Miramichi (later called Burnt Church, New Brunswick), 1758
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