What part did Washington play in the French and Indian War?
1 Answer
George Washington played pivotal role in the French and Indian War including possibly being responsible for the start of the war.
Explanation:
George Washington was actively involved in the fighting around the confluence of the Ohio River. Conflict over control of the Ohio River Valley and particularly the point of the confluence of the Ohio River was the spark point of the French and Indian Wars and George Washington was the match.
British and French traders had come into conflict over the trade with the Indians in the Ohio River Valley. The land had been claimed first by the British Colony of Virginia. The French also claimed the land as part of French exploration of the Mississippi River as the Ohio flowed into the Mississippi.
In 1753 Washington was sent to warn the French to leave the area and spy out the French strength in the area. The French refused to leave or recognize the British claim to the area.
In 1754 on Washington's recommendation Virginia sent a team to build a fort at the confluence of the Ohio River. George Washington was to follow up with a military force to protect the fort. The French had sent a force of 800 men to secure the area. On learning of the fort being constructed the French forced the Virginians to leave. Washington with a force of about 160 men and Mingo Indian allies decided to advance.
Washington encountered a scouting party of the French sent to order him to leave the Ohio River Valley. Washington surrounded the French and attacked the party, killing Jumon the leader of the French forces. The French and British were not at war at the time so this was considered by the French to be an unprovoked attack which was the beginning of the French and Indian Wars and the seven year global war between the French their Indian allies and the British.
In 1755 Washington was part of General Braddock's failed expedition to retake the fort on the confluence from the French.
Braddock was decisively defeated at the Battle of Monogahela. Washington was instrumental to directing the successful retreat of the combined Virginia and British troops.
From 1755 -1758 Washington now a Colonel was the leader of the Virginia militia. Washington helped lead the successful attack which retook the French fort of Fort Duquesne at the Confluence, renamed Fort Pitt. Despite Washington's successes the British denied him a commission in the regular British Army and Washington resigned from further fighting in the French and Indian Wars.
It could be said that George Washington was responsible for the beginning of the French and Indian Wars and for the successful conclusion of the War in the Ohio River Valley.
