SHOCK FRENCH VICTORY OVER THE BRITISH!

What was the background to the Seven Years’ War from 1756 to 1763?

In some ways, the Seven Years’ War is part of a much longer war. There’s 100 years of warfare between Britain and France in the 18th century, I think something like one year out of every two in the 18th century Britain and France are at war. So some historians would see the Seven Years’ War as a kind of unfinished business from the previous war, the War of the Austrian Succession [1740 to 1748]. They’re working out of those problems on the European continent. The second thing is a kind of ratcheting up of tension between these two emerging global superpowers. So, Britain and France going toe-to-toe around the globe looking for more trade, more commerce, more influence. That is another spark, as it were, that ignites the fire of the Seven Years’ War.