what was the french and indian war?

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was the North American theater of the larger global conflict known as the Seven Years' War. It was fought between the British and the French, along with their respective Native American allies, over control of territory in North America, especially the Ohio River Valley region. The war began from disputes over land claims and fur trading, escalating to frontier battles as both sides sought to expand their influence. The French initially had early victories but the British, under the leadership of William Pitt, turned the tide and captured key French strongholds such as Quebec and Montreal. The war ended with the French surrender and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, where France ceded Canada and territories east of the Mississippi River to Britain, while France gave Spain Louisiana west of the Mississippi. The British victory decisively reshaped colonial power in North America but also sowed seeds for future colonial discontent leading to the American Revolution.