The Seven Years’ War: History of the 18th-Century War between France and Great Britain

Summary

The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) marked a global struggle for supremacy between two major powers of the time: Great Britain and France. This conflict unfolded across continents and influenced various colonial and European theaters, laying the groundwork for modern geopolitics. In Europe, tensions stemmed from unresolved disputes left over from the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748), with Prussia and Austria both vying for dominance in the region. At the heart of the European conflict was Prussia's ambition to expand its territories, particularly in Silesia, a region it had claimed during the previous war but which Austria hoped to reclaim. This struggle for control in Central Europe was entangled with the broader power plays of Britain, France, and Spain, who were clashing both on land and at sea in the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond.

This era saw an unusual shift in traditional alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, which realigned European powers in surprising ways. Britain, traditionally at odds with Prussia, now found itself allied with its former rival, forming a coalition that included the German region of Hanover, which was united with Britain through the British royal family. Austria, in turn, formed a new alliance with France, its former adversary, bringing along Saxony, Sweden, and Russia in a united front against Prussian and British expansion. This shift altered the balance of power and further complicated the war’s dynamics, as each nation was not only defending its territories but also striving to outmaneuver and contain its rivals.