The French and Indian War started in 1754 when George Washington's
militia fired the first shots at Fort Duquesne. The war began and
victory looked meek for the British for many reasons. The colonies
were disorganized and many jealousies and disputes arose among them.
In addition the colonies' governors quarreled with their assemblies.
The colonies saw themselves, at the time, as trading economic
colonies, not an empire or nation. There was no need or want for a
military and military organization. The British colonies were unfit to
carry out an offensive war. Soon courageous, fearless and heroic
generals like Pitt, Amherst, and Wolfe helped turn the tide for the
British.
In 1754, George Washington led his army of 150 Virginia militiamen to
Fort Duquesne. The French leader there was killed and his men
retreated. They later returned with reinforcements and surrounded
Washington at Fort Necessity. After a ten hour siege, he was forced to
surrender his entire command.
However, he was permitted to march his
men away with the honors of war. In 1755, the British returned to Fort
Duquesne. Haughty and bullheaded General Braddock led an army of 2000
men. They moved slowly, dragging heavy artillery. They were soon met
by a small French and Indian army. Braddock's army was defeated and
Braddock himself was wounded. This defeat left the British frontier
naked and susceptible to attack. The French smelled victory.
At Britain's darkest hour, a hero emerged by the name of William
Pitt. Instead of attacking forts, Pitt aimed to attack cities which
equipped the forts with supplies. Pitt first dispatched an army
against Louisbourg in 1758. After a long siege, Louisbourg fell to the
British. Quebec was next on Pitt's list. For this crucial mission,
Pitt sent James Wolfe to take Quebec. The French under the...
That's it?
One of the turning points of imperial history merits in your mind a single paragraph? Shame!
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