Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars, 1689-1763

As early as 1630, Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands had settlements or colonies in North America. Always looking for ways to expand their territory, these European nations were constantly at war with one another over trade, borders, and religious differences. Beginning in 1689, their conflicts in Europe spread across the Atlantic to America. Over the next seventy years, competing European powers would battle for control of the New World. The winner would take the prize -- all of North America. Struggle for a Continent tells the riveting story of the French and Indian Wars seventy-four years of fighting that determined the destiny of the future United States. Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2001, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council

About the Author :
Betsy Maestro taught kindergarten and first grade for eleven years and earned a master's degree in elementary guidance. She has collaborated with her husband, Giulio, on more than forty-five books for young children, including The Story of the Statue of Liberty, A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution, an ALA Notable Book, as well as Delivery Van: Words for Town and Country and All Aboard Overnight: A Book of Compound Words. She lives in Connecticut. Giulio Maestro is an author and artist who has illustrated more than 100 books for young readers, including Liberty or Death: The American Revolution: 1763-1783, which was co-written with his wife, Betsy Maestro, and What Do you Hear When Cows Sing: And Other Silly Riddles, which was co-written with his son, Marco Maestro. He lives with his wife, Betsy, in Old Lyme, Connecticut

Review :
"Partly filling the historical gap between their "New Americans: Colonial Times, 1620-1689" (1998) and "A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution "(1987), the Maestros examine King William's War, Queen Anne's War, The War of Jenkins' Ear, and other half-forgotten conflicts usually lumped together as the French and Indian Wars. Concluding that these wars were fought for economic control of North America and paralleled the first stirrings of a sense of national unity, the authors trace the growth of trade routes and other lines of communication. They also pay close attention to the wars' consistently lamentable effects on the Native America groups allied with either the French or the British forces. Though much of the fighting and strategic maneuvering took place in what is now Canada, the Maestros take their most widely angled views of territories that became part of the United States. With plenty of precisely drafted battle scenes, street plans, portraits, maps, and landscapes, plus a spread of additional information on topics as diverse as colonial money and the Iroquois League, they bring a formative era in our country's history into sharp focus for young readers."--"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)"In this richly illustrated title, the Maestros bring an important part of our country's history to life. Seventy-four years of events are chronicled in a running narrative that begins by explaining how four European nations fought over trade, borders, and religion, and competed for the North American continent. While Spain and the Netherlands withdrew almost immediately, England and France continued to fight for 70 more years in a series of confrontations. These battles arecovered in the text, as are the relationships that these two countries had with the Native American tribes. Full-page, double-page, and spot-art illustrations in pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencil flow across the pages and extend the text. All are captioned. Several colorful maps are also included. Endnotes provide additional information on a few individuals, the Iroquois League, and life during the Colonial period. This accessible book fills a gap for young history buffs and report writers."--"School Library Journal""The Maestros bring history to life. . . .The text is a model of clarity, balance, and nuance. . . beautifully delineated pictures. . . A fine resource.?---"Booklist"