After the disastrous defeat at Fort Necessity, General Braddock was sent by the British to sweep the French out of the Ohio Country. However, Braddock was unprepared for French and Indian guerilla warfare tactics. In July 1755, Braddock's army of over 1,300 men was ambushed by a smaller French and Indian force. The British regulars suffered from panic and confusion, while the Virginia companies fought bravely. Over 600 British were killed or wounded, including Braddock, who died days later. Despite the defeat, Washington distinguished himself with his leadership and bravery during the battle.
2. Monday, October 17, 2011 BQ: What do you see in this cartoon? What do you think each section represents?
3. Join or Die was seen in print to promote Ben Franklin and John Hutchinson’s Albany Plan of Union. Supporters signed the document July 10, 1754. Unintentionally, this was a week after the Ft. Necessity disaster.
4. The Albany Plan of Union was intended to Unite the colonies against their common enemy, France. Help them develop ways to deal as a unified government with Indians, specifically the Six Nations of the Iroquois.
5. Why is the APOU significant? It was the first time to try to unify all the colonies. It showed separation from Britain’s colonies in other parts of the world. It anticipated many of the issues that a future government would need to deal with: Power, territory, and trade. These ideas would show up in documents as the new nation later formed.
6. Why wasn’t it adopted? Colonists did not want to give up their rights for local control. They feared losing power and territory. On the British side, this might have become a little hard to control.
7. Seeing the war getting underway, the British sent General Braddock to sweep the French out of the Ohio Country.
8. He was accustomed to British warfare, not French and Indian guerilla warfare. Tomorrow, we will see how Washington figured into Braddock’s plans.
9. Tuesday BQ: Who do you think this quote describes? “The one devoted to Mathematics exhibits a wide range of subjects combined with sureness and accuracy in working and clearness and neatness of presentation. Few graduates of colleges today, unless they specialize in mathematics, become as well trained in that subject."
10. Washington wanted to learn about the military the same way he had pursued the study of surveying.
11. He went after what he wanted. “To explain, Sir, I wish earnestly to attain some knowledge in the military profession, and, believing a more favorable opportunity cannot offer, than to serve under a gentleman of General Braddock's abilities and experience, it does, as may be reasonably suppose, not a little contribute to influence my choice."
12. He became a junior officer to Braddock. He was quite sick and in a wagon when they left, but told Braddock he wanted to be at the front when the action came. He got his wish.
14. A letter to his mom afterward "We continue our March from Fort Cumberland to Frazier's (which is within 7 miles of Duquesne) without meeting any extraordinary event, having only a straggler or two picked up by the French Indians. When we came to this place, we were attacked (very unexpectedly) by about three hundred French and Indians.
15. Our numbers consisted of about thirteen hundred well armed men, chiefly Regulars, who were immediately struck with such an inconceivable panick, that nothing byt confusion and disobedience of orders prevailed among them.
16. The officers, in general, behaved with incomparable bravery, for which they greatly suffered, there being near 600 killed and wounded--a large proportion, out of the number we had!
17. The Virginia companies behaved like men and died like soldiers; for I believe out of three companies that were on the ground that day scarce thirty were left alive. Capt. Payroney and all his officers, down to a corporal, were killed; Capt. Polson had almost as hard a fate, for only one of his escaped.
18. In short, the dastardly behaviour of the Regular troops (so-called) exposed those who were inclined to do their duty to almost certain death; and, at length, in spite of every effort to the contrary, broke and ran as sheep before hounds, leaving the artillery, ammunition, provisions, baggage, and in short, everything a prey to the enemy.
19. And when we endeavoured to rally them, in hopes of regaining the ground and what we had left upon it, it was with as little success as if we had attempted to have stopped the wild bears of the mountains, or rivulets with our feet; for they would break by, in despite of every effort that could be made to prevent it."
20. Braddock had been wounded and died 3 days later. Washington had assumed command. 2 horses were shot out from under him. They found 4 bullet holes in his coat.
21. Washington was a great believer in Providence. He felt that he was preserved for good reason. His bravery and take charge style came through.
23. Soon he married Martha Custis, who was a wealthy widow with 2 children.
24. He moved his new family into Mount Vernon. He was also elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses while in military service.
25. Scottish Gen. John Forbes even asked young Washington’s advice on the best way to get to Ft. Duquesne to take it. Luckily, he did not take it.
26. There were a series of defeats for the British/colonists. The loss at Ft. Ticonderoga by Howe and Abercrombe to French General Montcalm was especially tough.
27. William Pitt became Secretary of War, and eventually, Prime Minister. His emphasis on generals and soldiers in the colonies turned it around. Ft. Duquesne was regained.
28. Crucial to the war was winning Quebec. British/colonial forces came from the St. Lawrence River and climbed the steep cliffs at night to attack French troops on the Plains of Abraham.
29. The Battle of Quebec was not only fatal for the French, but for its Commander Montcalm and British Commander Wolfe (shot 3 times). “I die content.” James Wolfe-1759
30. The French were defeated. They would essentially be driven from North America.
31. The Treaty of Paris 1763 Changes the Map Britain gained: Canada All lands East of MS except New Orleans France lost all but a few islands Spain gave up FL to Britain, but gained all French land West of the MS River, plus New Orleans
