The major events of the French and Indian War took place outside of the New England colonies. However, these colonies contributed heavily to the war effort. Tens of thousands of New Englanders served on the front lines of this conflict. Most served in the New York theater of the war, and many were also involved in the Siege of Quebec as well. Without the ability to call upon the manpower of the militias of nearby New England, it is unlikely that the British would have been able to mobilize enough soldiers fast enough to engage the French forces in a timely matter.

New Englanders also made up the ranks of several specialized fighting forces, most notably that of Roger's Rangers. This guerrilla-style fighting unit was led by the Massachusetts-born Robert Rogers and consisted mostly of backwoodsmen from New Hampshire. The Rangers undertook raids on French towns and garrisons and served as scouts. In this manner, they were able to skillfully employ their knowledge of the wilderness to gain the upper hand against their foe.

Also, much of the French and Indian War was fought at sea. From their very beginnings, the New England colonies were a shipbuilding center. Timber from the interior was brought to shipyards which supplied much of the vessels for the British Navy. Many New Englanders served as sailors in the King's Navy. Without this contribution, the British may not have had superiority over the French at sea.