About 1.5 million of the European living in North America were English and Britain had established 13 colonies on the east coast of North America. But although there were far fewer french living in North America, French explorers had claimed large areas of land. Both countries wanted to control the beaver fur trade which was very profitable at that time in history. So in 1754 France and Britain went to war over control of North America. This war is known as the French Indian War. Most Native America tribes sides with the French who they saw as the lesser of two evils. Many Native Americans had suffered greatly at the hands of the English colonists. In 1756 the war in North America became a European War which lasted until 1763. It is called the Seven Years War and War and was the first true would war.