Final answer:
The English colonists, led by George Washington, started the European war known as the French and Indian War or the Seven Years' War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The English colonists, led by George Washington, started a European war known as the French and Indian War or the Seven Years' War. The war began in 1754 when George Washington, as a Virginian colonist, sought to defeat the French at Fort Necessity but was defeated. This prompted Great Britain to take action, leading to a war fought between Britain and France with Native American tribes aligning with each side.