Writing Assignment: Write a two-to-three-page paper on the following topic: Describe the history of the Seven Years’ War.
This week I have learned about the Seven Years’ War in my history class. It was a major war including most of the European nations and was very expensive and bloody. All the countries involved fought for so long, but most of them went back to the same position and status in which they had started at. However, the British Empire had gained much wealth and success from the Annus Mirabilis.
Before learning about the war, it is important that I quickly summarize two big events: the Lisbon Earthquake and the Diplomatic Revolution. A few centuries ago, specifically before 1755, Portugal had become a very strong nation, and was even vying with Spain. Then in 1755, an incredible natural disaster occurred in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It killed somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 people and almost destroyed Lisbon, making it a major setback for Portugal. Secondly, the Diplomatic Revolution was when several big European nations redrew their alliances. They went from Britain with Austria against France and Prussia to Britain and Prussia against France and Austria.
After this Diplomatic Revolution, so many countries had bonded and allied that if just two countries went to war, they would pull in many others with them. This is exactly how the Seven Years’ War had begun. There were still tensions between Britain and France since the French and Indian War, leading them to declare war once again. Like we said earlier, just these two going to war dragged in all their allies into the conflict, beginning the major Seven Years’ War.
While Britain was hoping to avoid a massive war, but then the French amassed a large army at Toulon and pushed the British out of Minorca, a Mediterranean Island. The British had no aids out there and were forced to surrender to the French. This was the final straw and caused Britain and France to declare war. Meanwhile, Prussia saw the war as an opportunity to expand their territory. They divided their forces to protect Prussia while attacking Saxony to the east. The Austrians aided Saxony, but Prussia dominated and defeated them both in battle. Saxony surrendered and their men were forced to join the Prussians. The other nations were shocked by this incidence and the Anti-Prussian alliance strengthened. Meanwhile Britain was staying out of trouble, and shipping soldiers and money to Prussia to prepare them for the upcoming battle for Europe.
The battle for Europe had been escalating and embroiling for 6 years. The Prussians had lots of success in 1757, but 1758-1760 was just defeat after defeat. Their only support was Britain, and only the determination of their King Frederik III kept them fighting. They had lost half their army in the Battle of Kunersdorf, and Frederik was now in a dire position. When the Russians defeated him, the Austrians saw opportunity to end Prussia for good. They both went to Berlin together to destroy Prussia, but they feared going beyond their supplies and withdrew. Frederik called this the Miracle of the House of Brandenburg.
Prussia had been pushed to their limits many times throughout the Seven Years’ War. They even got lucky because of the death of the Russian Empress, which was called the Second Miracle of the House of Brandenburg. And soon enough, Russia established the Treaty of St. Petersburg with Prussia in 1762, leaving Austria to face Prussia alone. The British on the other hand, were becoming weary of war. They demanded Frederik to forfeit the British help. This led to the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
All these countries, around the end of the war, went back to where they were when they started. All the colonies that were taken were eventually given back. Then came the Annus Mirabilis. Annus Mirabilis is Latin for “Year of Miracles”. It marks the year 1759, which was a string of British victories. They were doing terrible in the first half of the war, but in the second half they expanded their colonies significantly, were victorious in many battles, destroyed the French, and helped Hanover and Prussia continue war.
In conclusion, not much was gained in the Seven Years’ War. Most of its participants ended up right where they had started, but the British Empire gained lots of wealth and became the predominant European nation, while France suffered a terrible loss. But again, no other countries gained or lost any progress but the victorious British Empire and the defeated French Empire
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I love how varied your writing assignments are. The genres you are responsible for are making you a very strong, versatile writer. Keep up the great work. This topic is HUGE! Speaking about it in such an organized piece is very impressive. In your first paragraph, there seemed to be a thesis statement emerging. Although this would not have covered everything about the war, it would have included many important topics. When writing about a huge topic, narrowing your own summary down to 2-3 main points is key for organization. That would also leave you with a 5 paragraph essay – introduction with thesis statement, 3 body paragraphs to discuss the 3 main points of the thesis statement, and a conclusion paragraph. This structure is often used when writing on topics of historical significance because it allows you to stay organized, while not overwhelming your reader.
This week I have learned about the Seven Years’ War in my history class. It was a major war (that) including (included) most of the European nations(,) and was very expensive and bloody (This last sentence sounds like a thesis statement – 3 facts to be used as organization for the rest of your piece. Could you use it in this way?) All the countries involved fought for so long, but most of them went back to the same position and status in which they had started at. However, the British Empire had gained much wealth and success from the Annus Mirabilis.
Before learning about the war, it’s important that I quickly summarize two big events (Two big events that are crucial in understanding…): the Lisbon Earthquake and the Diplomatic Revolution. A few centuries ago, specifically before 1755, Portugal had become a very strong nation, and was even vying with Spain. Then in 1755, an incredible natural disaster (the earthquake? name it here) occurred in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It killed somewhere between 10,000 to 100,000 people and almost destroyed Lisbon, making it a major setback for Portugal. Secondly, the Diplomatic Revolution was when several big European nations redrew their alliances. They went from Britain with Austria against France and Prussia to Britain and Prussia against France and Austria. (Why were these two events so important – transition should be a bit stronger from these events to the war. Due to the uncertainties….)
After this Diplomatic Revolution, so many countries had bonded and allied that if just two countries went to war, they would pull in many others with them. This is exactly how the Seven Years’ War had begun. There were still tensions between Britain and France since the French and Indian War, leading them to declare war once again. Like we said earlier, just these two going to war dragged in all their allies into the conflict, beginning the major Seven Years’ War.
While Britain was hoping to avoid a massive war, but then the French amassed a large army at Toulon and pushed the British out of Minorca, a Mediterranean Island (Although Britain was hoping…., the French…) The British had no aids out there and were forced to surrender to the French. This was the final straw and caused Britain and France to declare war. Meanwhile, Prussia saw the war as an opportunity to expand their territory. They divided their forces to protect Prussia(,) while attacking Saxony to the east. The Austrians aided Saxony, but Prussia dominated and defeated them both in battle. Saxony surrendered and their men were forced to join the Prussians. The other nations were shocked by this incidence (incident) and the Anti-Prussian alliance strengthened. Meanwhile(,) Britain was staying out of trouble, and shipping soldiers and money to Prussia to prepare them for the upcoming battle for Europe.
The battle for Europe had been escalating and embroiling (love your verb choices) for 6 years. The Prussians had lots of success in 1757 (success in what?), but 1758-1760 was just defeat after defeat. Their only support was Britain, and only the determination of their King Frederik III kept them fighting. They had lost half their army in the Battle of Kunersdorf, and Frederik was now in a dire position. When the Russians defeated him, the Austrians saw opportunity to end Prussia for good. They both went to Berlin together to destroy Prussia, but they feared going beyond their supplies and withdrew. Frederik called this the Miracle of the House of Brandenburg.
Prussia had been pushed to their limits many times throughout the Seven Years’ War (LOVE this introduction sentence. You jump right into the next paragraph). They even got lucky because of the death of the Russian Empress, which was called the Second Miracle of the House of Brandenburg. And soon enough, Russia established the Treaty of St. Petersburg with Prussia in 1762, leaving Austria to face Prussia alone. The British on the other hand, were becoming weary of war. They demanded Frederik to forfeit the British help. This lead to the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
All these countries, around the end of the war, went back to where they were when they started. All the colonies that were taken(,) were eventually given back. Then(,) came the Annus Mirabilis. Annus Mirabilis is Latin for “Year of Miracles”. It marks the year 1759, which was a string of British victories. They were doing terrible in the first half of the war, but in the second half they expanded their colonies significantly, were victorious in many battles, destroyed the French, and helped Hanover and Prussia continue war.
In conclusion, not much was gained in the Seven Years’ War. Most of its participants ended up right where they had started, but the British Empire gained lots of wealth and became the predominant European nation, while France suffered a terrible loss. But again, no other countries gained or lost any progress but the victorious British Empire and the defeated French Empire (Your conclusion wraps up your piece well, but should not introduce anything new. Stick to recapping what you spoke about above).
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