The War That Made America

1. George Washington is partially responsible for the start of the French and Indian war because he attacks the French. He made plans to attack the French and gain the Forks back. He decides to ambush a base of French soldiers. Not only were they French soldiers, but they were there on a diplomatic mission. They meant no harm and were no threat. Still Washington attacks them and the French end up dead. This is the first battle in the French and Indian war. It is only a result of Washington being young and inexperienced.
2. Half-King was an Indian leader. He was so named because of his limited authority in the area. His people were refugees from the east who were diven to the Forks of the Ohio by tribal war and colonist expansion. He is now the leader of no more than 3,000 people. They are far from powerful and are controlled, as were most tribes, by the Iroquois Nation. He must make a decision to ally with the French, as most Natives at the time to, or take a risk on the British. Either way he will be asserting his authority, as he has not asked permission to make an alliance.
   
3. Half-King murders the French as a way to get what he wants. He knows that if he orchestrates battle between the French and the British, his strength and authority will improve. He brutally murders a wounded French warrior and knows the blame will fall on Washington. This will cause the French to retaliate, marking the beginning of the French and Indian War. He does this as a revenge for the humiliation he has suffered at the hand of the French, and also as a message to them to back off.
4. The English were in the right during at least the beginning of the French and Indian War. Not only did they do things right, but everybody else did things wrong. The French were going to take the Forks by force, not regarding the Natives that were there or the wishes of the British. The Natives purposely try to orchestrate a war just so they can get what they want. They are selfish and even when they are allied to somebody, they aren't loyal to anybody but themselves. This is shown through Washington's abandonment at Fort Necessity. The British tried first to handle things with diplomacy. George Washington was sent to try to negotiate with the French before any blood was shed. The French immediately rejected this idea. The British also decided to trade with the Indians on their terms and get the rights to build a fort at the Forks. They went through all the acceptable diplomatic routes with both the Natives and the French before waging battle as a last resort, making them the only group in the war that was even remotely in the right.