COMPETING EMPIRES

France and Britain both control large areas of North America, bordering each other. They both want larger areas for farmland. This eventually leads to war. Native Americans live on parts of both the French and the British's land and they side with the French.

FRENCH & INDIAN WAR BEGINS

French build forts between Lake Erie & Ohio River. Virginia Colony also wants that land. They send soldiers (Washington) to order the French to leave. The French reject. Next year Washington travels west where rivers meet to form Ohio River Valley. French were already there (Fort Desquene). He makes a fort of his own, Fort Necessity. He attacks, but then the  French make him surrender and leave.

The Albany Congress

British form plan with colonies and Iroquois tribe to fight the French. Iroquois refuse, expecting the French to win. Ben Franklin announced “Join or Die.” Ben made the Albany Plan of Union, collecting taxes, authority over western settlements, etc. Albany Congress approved but colonial assemblies rejected.