This Day in History: 1763-02-10

In 1763 the signing of the ‘Paris Treaty’ ended the ‘Seven Years War’. The treaty was signed by Great Britain, France and Spain officially ending the global conflict. The expansion of France’s Empire in North America and power struggles in India led to a confrontation with British forces and in 1756 Britain declared war on France. Britain had allied itself with Prussia (the German Kingdom including parts of Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Denmark, Belgium and the Czech Republic) against France and her Allies of Saxony, Austria, Russia and Sweden to protect Hanover (which was ruled by a British Ruling Dynasty) from the French. By funding its Prussian allies against the French, Great Britain was victorious in both its colonel pursuits and in Europe. The signing of the French treaties gave up many territories to the British Empire.