![]() ![]() Spain entered the war in 1761, joining France in the Third Family Compact between the two Bourbon monarchies. It was "the most important event to occur in eighteenth-century North America" prior to the American Revolution. Smaller German states either joined the Seven Years' War or supplied mercenaries to the parties involved in the conflict.Īnglo-French conflict over their colonies in North America had begun in 1754 in what became known in the United States as the French and Indian War (1754–63), which became a theatre of the Seven Years' War, and ended France's presence as a land power on that continent. Spain unsuccessfully attempted to invade Britain's ally Portugal, attacking with their forces facing British troops in Iberia. Spain aligned formally with France in 1762. At the same time, Austria ended centuries of conflict between the Bourbon and Habsburg families by allying with France, along with Saxony, Sweden and Russia. In a realignment of traditional alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Prussia became part of a coalition led by Britain, which also included long-time Prussian competitor Hanover, at the time in personal union with Britain. Prussia sought greater influence in the German states, while Austria wanted to regain Silesia, captured by Prussia in the previous war, and to contain Prussian influence. In Europe, the conflict arose from issues left unresolved by the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). Long-standing colonial rivalries pitting Britain against France and Spain in North America and the West Indies were fought on a grand scale with consequential results. Along with Spain, France fought Great Britain both in Europe and overseas with land-based armies and naval forces, while Britain's ally Prussia sought territorial expansion in Europe and consolidation of its power. The most powerful belligerents in each of the opposing alliances were Great Britain and France, with both seeking to establish global pre-eminence at the expense of the other power. ![]() The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict involving most of the major European powers and many smaller European states, as well as nations in Asia and the Americas.
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