Britain and France in North America By 1763, at the end of the French and Indian War, France's role in North America was minimal, especially as it then handed Louisiana to Spain in lieu of a cash subsidy. Britain may have appeared to reign supreme but soon Britain lost the 13 colonies, and its position in North America from about 1780-1812 looked marginal. Napoleon regained Louisiana from Spain in 1800, but after the successful revolt by slaves in Haiti, he lost interest in re-establishing a French empire in North America, and sold Louisana to the U.S. very cheaply.