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Britain and France
George Washington fought with British forces against the French. Btitain and France were two of the strongest powers in Europe. They competed fot wealth and empire in different parts of the world.This rivalry caused bitter feelings between British and French colonists in North America. -
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Frence and Brtain Clash
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Iroquois onfederacy
The confederacy initially included five nations- the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Oneida. Other groups of Native Americans later joined or were conquwews by the Iroquois. After the Tuscarora joined in 1722, the English referred to the confederacy as the Six Nations. -
Hospitality between the two forces
Hospitality between the two forces grew. British fur traders built a fort at a place called Pickawillany. Acting quickly,the Frence attacked Pickawillany and drove the British traders out oh Ohio.French troops also began raiding towns in Main and New York. -
Iroquois came under greater presser
By the mid-1700's, however, the Iroquois came under greater pressure as the British moved into the Ohio Valley. Eventually, the leaders of the confederacy gave certain trading rights to the British and reluctantly became their allies. By taking this step, the Iroquois upset the balance of power between the French and British that had been so difficult to establish. -
Virginians
In the fall oh 1753, Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia sent a survetor named George Washinton into the Ohio country. Washinton was 21 years old. His mission was to tell the French that they were trespassing on land that Great Britain claimed. He was demanded that they leave. -
Washington's First Command
In the spring of 1754,Dinwiddie made Washinton a lieurenant colonel. He then sent Washington back to the Ohio country with Militia- a group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies- of 150 men. The militia had inctructions to build a fort where the Allegheny and Monongahels Rivers meet to form the Ohio River- the site of present-day Pittsburgh. Washington and his trrops arrived to find the French already building Fort Duqesne ( doo-KAYN ) on that spot. -
The Albany Plan of Union
Meanwhile, representatives from several colonies met in Albany,New York, in June 1754 to discuss the threat of war. They wanted to find a way to defend themselvs against the French. They also hoped to persuade the Iroquois to support the British.
