Fariza K.

The life was difficult, sharing a world with a huge army, the best one in the world. What would the British do? They wanted the whole country. If they had war, they may have the whole country. But without it? Without it they would have part of a country. This was a huge decision the British had to make, so that they made sure they acted right when around the French. Everyday, they probably woke up thinking, “What will happen” but each day was a mystery.

The British Redcoats

The French Army

Chapter 1: Causes of the French and 

Indian War

In the early 1600s, the French had many colonies on the West and in Canada too. The English settled farther south from Massachusetts to the Carolinas, but really French and Britain territory was really vague.Researchers believe most land was really claimed by both countries, because their territory wasn't very nice and was very vague. Britain thought that the French colonies were a  threat to their empire, and French wanted to stop the English  from getting control over North America.

The Ohio River

French and Britain were arguing about a lot of places, but the main place they were fighting for was the reason of the war, it was the Ohio River. So in 1747, a guy named George Washington, known as the first president, had 2 half brothers that wanted land around the Ohio River. So they formed a company called the Ohio Company of Virginia King George II gave them permission to get land near the Ohio River, which today is the Pittsburg, but the French also wanted Ohio River. French and Britain was there and French started attacking the English and making forts to stop the english.

Meanwhile, Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia new what the French were doing. He started reporting the French to England. England gave Virginia permission to fight the French, but they needed a strong leader and they picked the young Major George Washington to battle the French.

When the went to meet up with the French and Washington gave French a letter that Governor Dinwiddie gave to Washington, and it told the French to leave their territory. A few days later Washington received a message from the French that they would not leave.

Washington Takes Revenge!

Dinwiddie ordered Washington to form an army. Britain promised Washington with free land for it. Many people signed up to be in the army! Hundreds of people wanted to participate. George Washington was then promoted to lieutenant colonel.

On April 2, 1754, Washington's army left Virginia. Soon after, Washington got a message from the Ohio River area. The English fort had been taken by the French. Washington declared war. They wanted to take back the fort.

Then on May 24, a message from a Seneca chief warned the English the French was coming after them. Then 3 days later the French were 5 miles away. That evening, another message from the Seneca chief said that he found the French.Washington took his 40 men army and met up with the chief. Then the next morning the English attacked the French. Washington's men and the chiefs men attacked the French. A dozen of Frenchman were killed and only one English soldier was killed.

After that tragic moment for the French, the French warned the Indians to stay away from the British because the French had lost many of their soldiers. The French were treating the Indians with more dignity, and unlike the English, the French didn't build farms on the Indians land.  So now they are building forts to keep the British out.

Fort Battle

            Washington built a large log fort, and it was called Fort Necessity. There were a bunch of people who had lived in that fort and there are a bunch of supplies in that fort. There were about 200 men, nine small cannons, and a small amount of food that was sent from virginia.

     Later, another 100 men came from South Carolina which was good and bad because they brought a herd of cattle, but also they ate all the forts food.

      On June 15 Washington and his men marched toward Fort Duquesne. It was nearly 30 miles away from where they were at.

     Soon on the 27th they were near the fort. Washington had sent one group ahead hoping that they will find some food. Soon enough they had found out that  the French at the fort now had 1,000 more men than they did. Washington and his men decided to go back to Fort Necessity.

                                                                                    

      Chapter 2: The War Itself              

      “The right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy’s fire… I heard the bullets whistle, and believe me, there is something charming in the sound.”

                -George Washington

       That letter was  sent for George Washington’s brother, John A. Washington. Friday, 
May 31st 1754.

 John A. Washington

Washington Surrenders

            On the morning of July 3 1754, 600 French soldiers and 100 of their Native Americans allies surrounded the fort. The French and Native Americans started firing! Since the French had the indians on their side they pretty much were winning the battle. Washington's army lost many men.

            Captain Louis de Villiers was the leader of the French. Villeres called for a talk about ending the fight. Washington and his men were starving and tired. Washington had to Surrender.

            The English left Fort Necessity and the French burned the fort to the ground.

 British Try Again

            Washington reported this to Governor Dinwiddie in England. Even back in England they also wanted the Ohio Country back from the French, so the British had called help. In January 1755, Major General Edward Braddock and his soldiers had came all sailed to North America.

            Washington has volunteered to help Braddock to fight the French. England had more soldiers blocking the Atlantic Coast so French ships would not get through nd sail away.In July 1755, General Edward Braddock was killed. Washington was now the leader and he was able to help save the other soldiers and also to become a hero. 

            Even though the English lost a important person in the battle they did not give up. In 1757 Washington sent John Forbes to North America to capture Fort Duquesne. Researchers think that England is very desperate about getting the Ohio Country again. 

            When he attacked in 1758, the outnumbered French burn the fort and retreated. Forbes rebuilt the fort on the Ohio River.  He renamed it Fort Pitt. Fort Pitt is now PttsburgThe fighting continued for a few more years.  Soon France could not reinforce its armies with new soldiers and supplies.  Then in 1760, French finally surrendered for good and British took all of Frenchs land.

            In 1763, the Seven Years War ended. The French gave Canada, and all its other land to the English. The next year England had to pay for the war somehow, so they started taxing the American Colonies to help them pay. These taxes caused anger to the colonies this led up to the American Revolution. How would you feel living in that time? It was a very rough,harsh time for both England and France. If you were apart of a army that time, do you think you would survive? Although this particular war had made the young Major George Washington a hero. Soon, he led the revolution against the British. But lastly a question for everyone is that if the Indians were on the French side, why were the English called the Indians.