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In 1754, 7 colonies met to address these problems at the Albany Congress.  They adopted Ben Franklin's Albany Plan of Union based on the Iroquois League of Nations.  The Albany Plan of Union attempted to unite the (English) colonies sufficiently to defend themselves against the French.

In 1754, 7 colonies met to address these problems at the Albany Congress.  They adopted Ben Franklin's Albany Plan of Union based on the Iroquois League of Nations.  The Albany Plan of Union attempted to unite the (English) colonies sufficiently to defend themselves against the French.

The Albany Congress sent a 21-year-old named George Washington to stop the French from building a fort in modern day Pennsylvania, and to protest French attacks.  But in Western Pennsylvania, at Fort Necessity, French defeated and captured him and his troops.  They made him sign a statement in French (which George Washington did not understand) that his men had assassinated some Frenchmen.  Then they released George Washington.  He remembered that lesson and in the Revolutionary War made sure that in the future he always had an aide who could understand French.  That future aide would be the very influential Founding Father named Alexander Hamilton.

The governor of Virginia sent a 21-year-old named George Washington to stop the French from building a fort in modern day Pennsylvania, and to protest French attacks.  But in Western Pennsylvania, at Fort Necessity, French defeated and captured him and his 400 troops.  They made him sign a statement in French (which George Washington did not understand) that his men had assassinated some Frenchmen.  Then they released George Washington.  He remembered that lesson and in the Revolutionary War made sure that in the future he always had an aide who could understand French.  That future aide would be the very influential Founding Father named Alexander Hamilton.

While George Washington was humiliated by this experience, that did not matter to the young colonies trying to assert themselves.  When he returned to Virginia was treated as their hero.  

While George Washington was humiliated by this experience, that did not matter to the young colonies trying to assert themselves.  When he returned to Virginia was treated as their hero.