<span>England and France were both major colonial powers who wanted to expand their holdings in North America. English settlements were primarily located in the eastern part of what is now the United States, but in this situation, westward expansion into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys could be blocked by the French.</span>
The French and Indian War impacted the colonies economically. As a result of the war, the British were able to expand their influence in the Ohio Valley. This meant the British would profit even more from the lucrative fur trade now that France had left the area.