Britain and France both controlled much of North America by the middle of the 1700’s. Both countries feared each other and wanted to claim as much land as possible. The Native Americans felt little threat by the french because they had fewer settlers than the british. When the british began moving into the Ohio River Valley it soon cause trouble.

When the french began building forts to claim their land the, Virginia colony, who also claimed the land, sent warnings to the French to back down. The French refused. The next year George Washington built a fort that was later overtaken by the french. Washington and his men were let go to go back to Virginia.

The british colonies expected a war to break out so the british government had a meeting with colonial leaders.They tried to form an alliance with the Iroquois tribe but they refused. Benjamin Franklin came up with a plan that was accepted by the Albany Congress but the Colonial Assemblies rejected his plan.

Soon after Washington returned the british government decided to try and push the french out of the Ohio River Valley General Edward Braddock led a large force to try and take over the French base named Fort Duquesne.

General Braddock knew military tactics used in Europe but was unfamiliar to the new tactics and conditions used in North America. He did not listen to any warnings or plans from the colonial troops. When they got close to Fort Duquesne they were ambushed. More than half or Braddock’s men were killed or wounded. Braddock himself was among the dead.