Phase 1 of 7 years war - initial British failure

Question 1

Why did the Ohio company send people to build a fort and what happened to it (1754)?

Answer 1

• The Ohio company sent a small militia force of 40 men to begin constructing Fort Prince George in the Ohio Valley, to protect their settlers (Ohio valley land grands)
• The French quickly seized the site and completed construction and then renamed it Fort Dusquense

Question 2

What happened around the battle of Jumonville Glen?

Answer 2

• George Washington (22yrs) was sent to reclaim Fort Dusquense, but he was forced to retreat after the battle of Jumonville Glen (a small skirmish), where a French official was killed (likely by one of Washington’s NA allies) - the French interpreted this as an act of war and send a large number of troops to retaliate
• Washington pulled back several miles and hastily established Fort Necessity but he was forced to surrender and withdrew his men

Question 3

What happened at the Albany congress 1754?

Answer 3

• Delegates from 7 colonies met to co ordinate defence around France and negotiate with NA tribes (meeting was sanctioned by the British crown)
• Ben Franklin proposed a ‘Plan of Union’ = an early model for colonial unity - would encompass a centralised form of government as a union of the 11 colonies but the other colonies rejected this plan
• congress also failed to meet a joint conclusion about NA’s (specifically the Iroquois)

Question 4

What happened in the Braddock Expedition?

Answer 4

• 1755
• The British government decided to launch a major 4-pronged attack to secure the frontier:
  1) 2 regular regiments under General Braddock to secure the Ohio valley
  2) an attack on Fort Niagra
  3) An attack on both Ticonderoga and Crown Point (French forts on New York’s northern border)
  4) an attempt to secure Nova Scotia

In the Braddock expedition - failed to retake Fort Dusquense or assert British control in the Ohio Valley - Braddock and 1/3 of his men were killed at the Battle of Monogahela River (July 1755)

The campaign in Nova Scotia was the only one which was successful

Question 5

What was Braddock like as a commander?

Answer 5

Braddock was an arrogant commander and ignored warnings from men like George Washington about the failings in his plan
Braddock only took 8 Indian scouts with him

Question 6

What were the lessons the British needed to adapt to considering their weak position by the end of 1755?

Answer 6

• needed to adjust to the different style of warfare
• needed to secure NA support (NA’s had a preference of siding with the French because the French would grant them with rewards Eg. allowance to pillage conquered areas, whereas the British would not)
• Colonial militia were not good enough