Final answer:
George Washington's engagements with the French, including the Battle of Jumonville Glen and subsequent surrender at Fort Necessity, kicked off the French and Indian War.
Step-by-step explanation:
When George Washington fought the French between 1753 and 1754, a series of events led to the beginning of the French and Indian War. In 1754, Washington engaged the French at the Battle of Jumonville Glen, which represented the war's first engagement. This battle resulted in the French commander Jumonville's controversial death and was a British victory, albeit a mismanaged one that damaged Washington's reputation. Washington and his forces later constructed Fort Necessity but were defeated and forced to surrender to the French. This defeat and the opening skirmishes around the Ohio River Valley escalated into the larger French and Indian War, setting the stage for a conflict that would span continents.