the causes and events of the seven years war Flashcards
what was the albany plan of union 1754?
a plan to place the british north american colonies under a more centralized government
what did britain ask the colonies to do at the albany congress?
send delegates from virginia northward to the meeting to discuss the joint native american policy
what did the albany congress fail to do?
secure an alliance with the iroquois people
the tribe best disposed towards the british
what did the congress adopt instead?
a scheme drawn up by benjamin franklin for a permanent intercolonial conferderation
what caused the seven years war?
french fur traders from pennsylvania and virginia were eager to trade with indians in the ohio river valley
leading virginia planters, who were interested in developing the region, had formed the ohio company, received a royal grant of 200,000 acres in the ohio river valley in 1749.
french, were determined to secure the territory against encroaching british and american traders so built a chain of forts along pennsylvania’s allegheny river.
british ministry ordered colonial governors to repel the french advance, “by force” if necessary.
early 1750s
virginians crossed the allegheny mountains in upper ohio river valley to trade with the indians and survey 200,000 acres given by the king
what did the infuriated french begin to do?
build forts in the disputed area
what did the virginian governor do?
sent a warning to the french to back off
what did george washington receive?
a polite but firm refusal from the french
spring 1754
george washington sent back by a governor with small force to build a fort at a strategic point on the allegheny river to stop the french
who did washington lead across the allegheny river?
what did they discover?
150 volunteers and iroquois allies
the french had beaten them to it and built fort duquesne
what did washington decide to wait for?
reinforcements
he camped 40 miles away from the french
what happened the day after washington camped?
what was he unaware of?
virginians ambushed a small french detachment
they were on a peaceful mission to discuss disputed territory
what happened during the ambush?
what shocked washington?
10 french soldiers killed
1 escaped
21 captured
when several wounded french soldiers were scalped by the iroquois
what did washington do after the ambush?
retreated quickly
built fort necessity