Answer:
The correct answer is: They tried to drive the French out of the Ohio River valley.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British and the French were constantly working towards taking as much control of the new world as possible.
The British had established 13 colonies in the north-west while the French had some possessions in the South.
An expansion in the Ohio Valley was seen as strategically important for both the British and the French.
As news of the French reached Virginia's Lt. Governor sent in Major George Washington with a small regiment to resist the French Advance. At the time, George Washington was only 21 years old.
He met the French with a simple message to leave the Valley and let the English tradesmen live in Peace. The French responded by saying that the area belonged to them and it was not contestable.
Eventually, this lead to a growing spat between two European powers.