What caused the French and Indian War ?
The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years' War, was primarily caused by territorial disputes between European powers in North America. Specifically, the conflict arose from competing claims over the Ohio River Valley region between the British and the French. Both nations believed the area to be strategically important for controlling trade and expanding their empires.
The French had established a number of forts in the Ohio River Valley, including Fort Duquesne, which the British saw as a threat to their own expansion in the region. In response, the British attempted to establish their presence in the area by sending George Washington to evict the French from the Ohio territory.
Tensions escalated as both sides sent troops and military supplies, leading to a series of skirmishes between British and French forces. Several Native American tribes were caught up in the conflict as well, aligning themselves with either the British or the French based on their own strategic interests.
The outbreak of the war in North America in 1754 eventually spread to Europe, where various other European powers became involved in the conflict. The war officially began in 1756 and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which resulted in the British gaining control over vast territories previously held by the French in North America.