Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War (1756–63), war between Austria, France, Russia, Saxony, Sweden (from 1757), and Spain (after 1762) on the one side and Britain, Prussia, and Hanover on the other. In the United States the struggle centered on colonial rivalry between Britain and France, and formed part of the French and Indian Wars. In Europe the main dispute was between Austria and Prussia for supremacy in Germany. Austria's Maria Theresa aimed to recover Silesia (lost in the War of the Austrian Succession). This provoked Prussia to attack Saxony and Bohemia. Although severely pressed, the Prussians avoided complete defeat. By the treaties of Hubertusberg and Paris (1763), Britain emerged as the leading colonial power and Prussia as a major European force.