At the beginning of the war, France controlled Canada and the Louisiana Territory. Britain controlled most of the east coast of North America. In one of the first battles of the war, Lieutenant Colonel George Washington and his Virginia troops (fighting for the British) were sent to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to remove the French from their new fort. Washington was defeated by the French, and the French soon controlled the entire region.

In 1756, the British began to defeat the French, especially in naval battles. In 1759, General James Wolfe's army defeated the French at Quebec (although both Gen. Wolfe and his French adversary Gen. Montcalm both died during the battle).

When the French finally lost the war, the Treaty of Paris (signed on February 10, 1763) gave Britain control of Canada and the French areas east of the MIssissippi River. Spain gave Florida to Britain, and received the former French areas west of the Mississippi River.