Background to the Seven Years War
The cause of the Seven Years War was rooted in the results of the previous conflict, the War of Austrian Succession (1740-48). The Aix-la-Chapelle Treaty which ended this war was unable to calm Austria's anger at the loss of the rich province of Silesia which was captured by Prussia. The treaty was also unable to withstand the conflicting ambitions of French and British colonialism, triggering a new, bigger battle.
Although the Seven Years War is basically a continuation of the Austrian War of Succession, there are two significant differences compared to the previous war.
The first important difference is that the Seven Years War is truly a global war, requiring a total commitment of resources and all troops. Therefore, the warring countries put all they have to keep on fighting, profit becomes secondary.
The second major difference is the definitive shift in the axis of alliance that had existed during the first half of the 18th century. Austria and Britain, longtime allies, violated their agreement and Austria sided with France which was previously its enemy. Prussia in turn severed relations with France and sided with Britain.
The main figures in the Seven Years War are Queen Maria Theresa of Austria; George II and then George III of England; Louis XV from France; Frederick II (later known as Frederick the Great) of Prussia; and Queen Elizabeth from Russia.
Strength of each country
Prussia
At the beginning of the war, Prussia had 145,000 troops and was considered the most effective in Europe in fighting linear formations. This is achieved by thorough, disciplined training.
In the period after the Austrian War of Succession, Frederick II had also reformed the heavy cavalry to become the best in Europe. The greatness of the European cavalry succeeded in causing a surprise blow to their enemies.
The Prussians had a very organized system in maintaining the stability of their army in the field. The canton system introduced in the 1720s and 1730s regularly called all able-bodied men in certain districts to be selected. The best people will proceed to regular units for compulsory military training. They will practice with a regular regiment for a year, while the rest will train with garrison regiments in the area.
English
Before the war began, Britain had around 90,000 troops. The number of troops reached nearly 150,000 during the war, but finding enough soldiers for the army was a problem in itself. To fill the ranks of the Royal Navy and local British militias, many pulled prisoners from prison. Most of the soldiers were then stationed abroad.
The greatest strength of the British army during the Seven Years' War was its ability to adapt to various conditions. When soldiers are asked to fight in North America, it becomes clear that traditional linear tactics are not suitable for fighting in heavily forested areas on the border. To be effective in the forest, soldiers must use light weapons so they can move quickly.
Russia
The strength of the Russian army is 333,000 people, divided into 174,000 field troops and the rest are militia and garrison troops. During the war, Russia usually only uses between 60,000 and 90,000 people for one campaign.
The superiority of the number of troops is Russia's biggest asset. The Russians were able to provide more reinforcements than Prussia predicted. Reforms have been arranged to improve the army, but were only implemented when the war began and showed little meaningful results at the end.
Austria
The Austrian army stood in 201,000 troops in 1756. The Austrians had formed a reform commission after the defeat of the Silesian War of 1748. Intensive training was also carried out in all branches. The strength of armed Infantry is increased, although it is still not to the same level as Prussia. To balance out Prussian fighting strength, Austria relied on a defense strategy.
French
The Seven Years War marked the lowest point for the French army in the 18th century. The number of troops numbered more than 200,000, but had poor capabilities. Low quality of leadership, lack of discipline, lackluster officers and delays in implementing the necessary reforms are the cause of this.
But there were some exceptions to the rules among the French troops in the colonies. French troops stationed in North America are border troops who are highly trained with their linear strategies. England learned from their initial defeat to implement tactics similar to their own training strategies.
French East Indian Company troops are also of high quality. In the late 1740s they used indigenous troops (Indian tribes) in linear warfare. As in North America, the British learned from the defeat and applied French theory to their own troops in the region or India.
However, the French could not strengthen their colonial power after 1758 the British Royal Navy succeeded in blocking French naval access to their own colony. At the same time, the British continued to strengthen their colony outnumbering the French.
The course of the Seven Years War
The war began in 1756 and lasted for seven years. In the early days of this war France and Austria dominated the war, so both were predicted to win the war.
However, Britain under Prime Minister Pitt the Elder soon joined Prussia. Prussian glorious victory in the battle against France at Rossbach in 1757. The victory at Rossbach marked the turning point of the war.
After winning at Rossbach, Prussia again reaped victories at Leuthen against Austria and at Zorndorf against Russia. The Prussian victory followed the British victory over France at Plassey in India and in Quebec, Canada.
In 1759, fighting intensified, marked by the victory of the Anglo-Prussian forces over the French in Minden, Germany. Meanwhile, the British navy also carve brilliant results by defeating the French fleet in the Gulf of Quiberon. The Anglo-Prussian Alliance continued to carve victory, after in 1760 the British captured Montreal, Canada.
To avenge Prussian victories, Austria and Russia increased the number of troops. The addition of these troops made Prussian troops change their war strategy to survive to withstand the onslaught of these troops.
Prussia was almost destroyed, but was saved by the death of Russian Tsarina, Elizabeth, who died in 1762. The new Tsar Peter III pulled Russia out of war and left Prussia and Austria facing each other to fight over Silesia and Saxony.
The Prussians were able to achieve excellence in both provinces. But the war never reached its final destination, because both parties were exhausted and had run out of war resources. Peace becomes the only way that can be taken. Therefore, an Austrian envoy arrived to open peace negotiations on November 29, 1762.
Elsewhere, with the rise of George III to the English throne in 1760, British strategy began to change. George III paid more attention to the war in the colony and less concerned with the war in Germany.
In October 1761, the alliance of the British government William Pitt and the Duke of Newcastle who had promoted a joint colonial / continental war officially ended. Lord Bute became chief minister and the British began to leave Prussia both politically and financially.
Initially the two countries had agreed not to negotiate with any party unless agreed, but Britain violated this agreement when they began submitting negotiations to France. The British attitude caused a serious rift between Prussia and England.
End of the Seven Years War
The Seven Years War finally ended with two separate peace treaties. First, the Paris Agreement, involving Great Britain, France, and Spain and was signed on February 10, 1763. Under its conditions, Britain obtained Canada, Cape Breton Island, Newfoundland, the Ohio River valley, and all lands east of the Mississippi River.
France relinquished all claims to New France by receiving rewards for only two islands off the coast of Newfoundland, St. Pierre and Miquelon. France also accepts Martinique, Guadeloupe and Marie Galante in the Caribbean, while Britain maintains Grenada and all Lesser Antilles except St. Lucia.
Britain was also the dominant European power in the Carnatic and Bengal regions of India, while Pondicherry was returned to France. Belle Isle (off the coast of France) was given back to France in return for the Minorca region and Britain returned Goree in West Africa in return for Senegal.
France also agreed to evacuate all of George III's territory in Germany and its allies. Britain returned Cuba and the Philippines to Spain as a substitute for Florida and withdrawal from Portugal.
Austria and Prussia signed the Hubertusburg Peace Treaty on February 15, 1763. All 1756 borders were restored. Austria withdrew from Silesia and Prussia withdrew from Saxony. Silesia remained a part of Prussia and the division of Prussia as a state did not occur. In fact the outcome of the war actually strengthened Prussia's role as a major European power.
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