Question

lesson 4 rivalry in north america, continued
rivalry between the french and the british
in the 1700s, britain and france were top world powers. they competed for colonies all over the world, including north america.
west of the thirteen english colonies were the appalachian mountains. beyond them was the ohio river valley. this large area had many natural resources. both the british and french wanted the region. the french were already trading for fur with the native americans there. they did not want to share this business with the british.
to protect their claims, the french built a string of forts. the british then started to build a fort of their own. before it was finished, the french took it over, built their own fort, and called it fort duquesne (doo•kayn).
in the spring of 1754, virginia colony sent its militia to fort duquesne. a militia is a military force made up of everyday citizens. this militia was led by a young virginian named george washington. washington set up his own fort near fort duquesne and called it fort necessity. the french attacked, helped by native americans. together, they defeated the virginia militia. even so, washington was called a hero. he had struck the first blow against the french.
now both the french and the british looked to the native americans for help. in this, the french had the advantage. the native americans trusted them. the french were more interested in fur trading than in land. in contrast, the british had already taken much land from the native americans and could not be trusted.
the british tried to make a treaty with the iroquois confederacy, the most powerful group of native americans in eastern north america. representatives from seven colonies met with iroquois leaders at albany, new york, in june 1754. the iroquois would not agree to an alliance, or partnership. they only promised to stay neutral—to take no side in the fighting.
while in albany, the delegates also talked about ways the colonies might work together against the french. they decided to adopt benjamin franklins albany plan of union. it would create a united colonial government. because no colony wanted to give up any power, the plan failed.
soon all were involved in the french and indian war.
describing

1. what geographical area separated the colonies from the ohio river valley?

explaining

1. why did the french believe the ohio river valley was their territory?

reading check

1. why did conflict between the french and british increase in the mid - 1700s?

finding main ideas

1. what was the main reason native americans would not help the british against the french?

Explanation:

1. Los Apalaches separaban las colonias inglesas de la valle del río Ohio.
2. Los franceses creían que era su territorio porque ya estaban comerciando con los nativos americanos allí y no querían compartir el negocio con los británicos. Además, construyeron fuertes para proteger sus reivindicaciones.
3. Ambos querían la región rica en recursos naturales de la valle del río Ohio. Los franceses no querían que los británicos se interpusieran en su comercio de pieles con los nativos americanos y construyeron fuertes, lo que llevó a que los británicos intentaran construir su propio fuerte, aumentando el conflicto.
4. Los nativos americanos no confiaban en los británicos porque estos ya les habían quitado mucha tierra. En contraste, los franceses se mostraban más interesados en el comercio de pieles que en la posesión de tierras, ganando la confianza de los nativos americanos.

Answer:

1. Los Apalaches.
2. Estaban comerciando con nativos americanos y no querían que los británicos se interpusieran, y construyeron fuertes para proteger sus reivindicaciones.
3. Ambos querían la región rica en recursos naturales y los franceses no querían que los británicos se interpusieran en su comercio de pieles con los nativos americanos, construyendo fuertes.
4. Los británicos ya les habían quitado mucha tierra y los nativos americanos no los confiaban.