THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

The arrival of General Edward Braddock in 1755 set in motion the events that would eventually lead to the Seven Years' War in Europe . Braddock quickly led a campaign against French forces with the intentions of capturing Fort Duquesne . However, the British still held to the European style of linear marching which was no match for the guerilla tactics of the French and Indian Armies and consequently the British Army under Braddock was routed. Washington was forced to lead the remaining survivors in a retreat as Braddock had been shot and died of his wounds four days later.

What followed this early encounter was more success for French forces. Led by Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm , the French began winning a string of victories including Fort William Henry and Carillon.

In the year 1756, war was officially declared between Great Britain and France signaling the start of the Seven Years War in Europe . Years of turmoil between the two nations' colonies had finally taken its toll and seven years of fighting began on European soil. It was also the beginning of strife between the British and their colonial subjects. “The Seven Years War became the first inter-colonial conflict in which large numbers of British regulars fought alongside provincial soldiers in North America .” (Purvis p. 1) This may have been the beginning of American animosity towards their British counterparts. There are several reports of unfairness among the ranks. For instance British officers, in several cases, held authority over American officers of the same rank. Tensions would continue to grow worse between the two sides as the war progressed.

In 1758 it seemed the path to victory began to favor the British who started to take the upper hand. A three part attack by the British seemed to spell the end of French dominance on the battlefields of America . In the summer of 1758 the British captured the key fortress of Louisbourg. This victory guaranteed British control over the Bay of the St. Lawrence. Though an attempt to capture Fort Carillon failed, the British also gained victory at Fort Frontenac .

There were two turning points during the war. The first occurred at Fort Duquesne . After a difficult struggle against the French, the British General John Forbes held a peace council with the Indian tribes in the region allied with France at Fort Bedford and established a peace with them. With no Native American allies their communication cut off from Montreal , the French abandoned Fort Duquesne allowing the British to gain control of the Ohio Valley .

The most significant turning point of the war was the British capture of Quebec . Quebec, the epitome of French power in North America , was laid siege to on June 27 to September 18, 1759 by 9,000 British troops and twenty ships. After the French surrendered the city the British Army made haste to capture the last two major French Forts of Detroit and Montreal . By 1760 these two sites had been neutralized and British control of North America had become almost guaranteed.