Introduction

Beginning in the sixteenth century, longstanding power struggles in Europe began to affect the rest of the world, as European monarchs maneuvered to control larger and larger colonial empires. Between 1688 and 1763, England, France, and Spain fought four world wars that involved their colonies in North America. In the first three-King William's War (1689-1697), Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), and King George's War (1744-1748)-the North American colonies of all three monarchs were largely pawns, though the wars did produce some changes in the continent's colonial configuration. In the fourth war, the French and Indian War (1754-1763), however, the North American colonies were the main center of action. British victory in that war dramatically changed the balance of colonial power in North America.

This module depicts those four world wars in four parts. For each war, there is one map that displays the major military actions of the conflict in North America and another that displays the North American colonial claims recognized at the conclusion of the war.