The French and Indian war remains a very consequential war because it changed the fate of North America. Before the war, there was an “Imperial rivalry between Britain and France” (Brennan, slide 4) that had persisted for centuries. This divide was inflamed by conflicting claims to land in the Ohio river valley; where the British had settled and the French had built forts. The war began when general George Washington led an attack on France’s Fort Necessity. France emerged victorious here, but Britain later declared war on France. Early on, it was an uphill battle for the British; they suffered defeats at Fort Duquesne and Jumonville. In addition the Indians, who had allied with the French, massacred the British at Fort William Henry. However
