How Did George Washington Start The French And Indian War
George Washington’s actions from 1753-1758 in Western Pennsylvania greatly affected the French and Indian war. In fact, he basically started it. George Washington himself was the spark that ignited the fire. He created this spark by raiding a peace party, killing Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville, and signing a document proving him guilty.
One of the reasons George Washington is guilty of starting the war is that he raided a peace party. In 1754, Virginia’s Governor Dinwiddie sent George Washington, then a commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the newly created Virginia Regiment (a colonial militia), on a mission to the Ohio Country to surprise the French occupants and attempt to turn them out, thus securing valuable territory for Virginia. …show more content…
After Tanaghrisson had killed Jumonville, the gloves were off. It wasn’t long before the French and their Indian allies launched a swift counterattack. Fort Necessity was surrounded and Washington and his men, under siege, eventually surrendered. Tensions were at a fever pitch. The French claimed that Jumonville’s party had been on a diplomatic (rather than military) mission and that the ambush and killing of the prisoners was unprovoked and unacceptable. The “Jumonville affair ” was an international incident of the first order. It was one among many events that led to the confrontation (between the two superpowers of the time) but it was the decisive spark that ultimately ignited the French and Indian War. After a series of embarrassing negotiations Washington was subsequently released by the French, with the promise not to return to the Ohio Country. The incident was a “black-eye” for the British, so much so that back in Virginia Governor Dinwiddie responded angrily; the disgraced Washington, faced with a demotion in rank, opted to resign from active military service. As it turned out, the Jumonville Affair was not the end for George Washington in the French-Indian war, but it should have
One of the reasons George Washington is guilty of starting the war is that he raided a peace party. In 1754, Virginia’s Governor Dinwiddie sent George Washington, then a commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the newly created Virginia Regiment (a colonial militia), on a mission to the Ohio Country to surprise the French occupants and attempt to turn them out, thus securing valuable territory for Virginia. …show more content…
After Tanaghrisson had killed Jumonville, the gloves were off. It wasn’t long before the French and their Indian allies launched a swift counterattack. Fort Necessity was surrounded and Washington and his men, under siege, eventually surrendered. Tensions were at a fever pitch. The French claimed that Jumonville’s party had been on a diplomatic (rather than military) mission and that the ambush and killing of the prisoners was unprovoked and unacceptable. The “Jumonville affair ” was an international incident of the first order. It was one among many events that led to the confrontation (between the two superpowers of the time) but it was the decisive spark that ultimately ignited the French and Indian War. After a series of embarrassing negotiations Washington was subsequently released by the French, with the promise not to return to the Ohio Country. The incident was a “black-eye” for the British, so much so that back in Virginia Governor Dinwiddie responded angrily; the disgraced Washington, faced with a demotion in rank, opted to resign from active military service. As it turned out, the Jumonville Affair was not the end for George Washington in the French-Indian war, but it should have