Final answer:
William Pitt's policies during the Seven Years' War focused on securing a victory in North America by prioritizing its theater of war, raising a large military force through subsidies, and using the British navy to blockade French ports, along with supporting allies in Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Pitt's Policies During the Seven Years' War
William Pitt, known as the 'Great Commoner' and later as the 'Earl of Chatham,' played a crucial role in British policy during the Seven Years' War, particularly concerning the situation in North America. Given his stance on the conflict that erupted between Britain and France, Pitt's policies were directed towards securing a British victory in North America. One of his key strategies was to prioritize the North American theater as the primary field of engagement against France, where he successfully raised an enormous force of 45,000 troops, including British regulars and colonial militiamen. He offered the colonies subsidies to encourage their wartime participation.
Furthermore, Pitt employed the British navy to impose blockades on French ports to cut off reinforcements and trade. This blockade would severely impact the French army’s ability to maintain their forces and their relations with their Indian allies. Pitt's strategy began to show results with significant victories like the capture of Louisbourg in 1758, followed by the fall of Montreal. While focusing on the North American front, he also provided financial support to allies like Prussia to handle the war in Europe.
Prior to the escalation of the war into the Seven Years' War, the British policy of salutary neglect allowed the colonies to flourish with minimal parliamentary intervention—a practice that William Pitt shifted away from as the war required increased imperial engagement and funding.