Page 38 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

Beers with our Founding Fathers

literally a world war of the time, involving the major powers of

Europe and their colonies throughout the explored world. Each
theater of war was known by a different name. Important to our

road to independence was the French and Indian War. In the
colonies, the French were allied by the native Indians and England

was allied by the colonists and armies from each of the thirteen
colonies. In addition, the war did two things: 1) increased rivalry

between the colonists of France and England; and 2) instilled a
sense of self-reliance in the colonies. It was also the most costly war

of the century – in lives and money, more so than the subsequent
American War for Independence.

Before the war was formally declared, in November of 1753,
England sent a young Major George Washington, of the Virginia

army, to the Ohio territories with a message to the French army
commanders demanding they withdraw from the territories. Near

present-day Pittsburgh, Major Washington, was directed to build a
fort and force the French out. This was unsuccessful and after only

one month, the fort was abandoned to the French. In 1755, England
sent additional troops to force the French out of the territories, only

to also be unsuccessful and forced to abandon the efforts.
After the formal declaration of war, the smaller French armies

maintained dominance on several fronts and over the course of
many battles. Both England and France continued to be allied by

native Indians. In 1758 the native Indian allies of France began to

abandon the war, while the alliance of other native Indians and
England grew. This weakened the smaller, but more effective French
armies. By 1759, when Quebec was lost to England by France, the

-- 38 --