Today’s Purpose: Explain how George Washington caused

the French and Indian War.

King George’s War

Who wins the French and Indian War?

Causes the French and Indian War

In 1732, George Washington was the third son born to a Virginia gentry family.  As a third son, he would only inherit some land, but would have received a good education in England...  

When he was 11, George's father died.

George could not go to school in England.  Though he was tutored at home, he always felt embarrassed about his lack of education.

He went to learn a trade:  surveying.  He measured pieces of land and learned how to survive in the wilderness, making friends with Indians and learning their ways.

Washington was honest and humble.  Due to this he was given a military commission in the Virginia Militia with the rank of Major. 

An Ambassador

“There is a Destiny that has control of our actions, which cannot to be resisted by the strongest human effort.”

-George Washington

The French and British colonists in North America argued over who owned what land. In 1753, France built forts in the Ohio Country, a region Virginia claimed.

Virginia's Governor sent Washington to deliver a letter which asked the French to leave "British" territory.

Washington and his 20 men traveled across mountain passes with knee deep snow.

Their clothes froze stiff as a board and as they dodged Indian war parties.

Washington wrote a book about what happened. It made him famous in England and the Colonies... So how did he cause the French and Indian War??

Fort Necessity and Half-King

“Half-King”, Indian ally to Washington

The English were not pleased at France's refusal to leave. In 1754, Virginia's governor ordered Washington to return, this time with about 100 Virginia militia. His mission? Drive the French out.

Washington was ordered to destroy any French force he found in Ohio...When he got there, Washington came upon a French force of about 30 men…

Washington gave the order to attack...He didn't know that the French group were there to deliver a letter to him which asked him to leave, just as he had done before.

The French lost the fight. The French commander, Jumonville, began to read the letter to Washington to prove why the French were there.

Colonel Washington also had some Indian fighters with him...

Half-King

Suddenly Half-King pulled out his tomahawk and killed Jumonville.  Colonel Washington wasn't able to stop the Indians until several more French had been killed.

Washington knew that he would be attacked by other French forces, so he built Fort Necessity.  This was a mistake.  The tiny fort was only about 100 yards from cover of trees.

Washington is forced to surrender, sign a letter stating he was the cause of the battle and go back to Virginia.

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was ON.

D.O.L.1. What were the French, the English and their Indian

allies fighting over? 2. Why did the governor of Virginia send Washington

to the French?3. What caused the French and Indian War to start?4. Who won? What did they win?

Who wins the French and Indian War?

What is a parable?

• A parable is a common-place story in which each character represents something else. The story teaches you a lesson.

• The following slide contains a story about a refrigerator and several friends. Try to guess who/what each character represents.

The Continental Refrigeratora parable about the French and Indian War

Irene lived in a mostly quiet neighborhood, until Frank and Ernie arrived.

They all became friends and would hang out at Irene’s house after school. Frank and Ernie would bring snacks

and sometimes trade with what Irene had in her refrigerator. Frank usually took whatever was on the top shelf of the ‘fridge, and Ernie the bottom. One day, Frank

and Ernie got to arguing about what was on the middle shelf. Irene didn’t know who to side with… Frank had

been nicer to Irene so she helped him. Her little brother Isaiah liked Ernie and helped him…

So who won?

French and Indian War Parable DirectionsCreate a parable which teaches the events of

the French and Indian War.Use U.S. History book p. 96, if needed.

1. List basic events of French and Indian War. First event, second event, etc.2. Decide on a setting for the parable: the mall, school…3. Imagine characters that symbolize a) France b) England c) Indians d) something they want: food, etc.4. Imagine a story which tells the events of the War in a symbolic way.