Final answer:
The French and Indian War began due to territorial disputes in the Ohio River Valley involving British and French colonists and Native American tribes. Key figures like George Washington played significant roles in the conflict, which resulted in a shift in North American power dynamics and laid the groundwork for later colonial unrest.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actions leading up to the French and Indian War were precipitated by a contest for power and land in the Ohio River Valley between the British, French, and various Native American tribes. The British expansion, represented by Virginians like George Washington and companies such as the Ohio Company of Virginia, clashed with the French who had built forts to protect their claims.
Native American alliances played a role, with tribes like the Huron siding with the French against their enemies, the Iroquois, who allied with the British.
Militia leader George Washington's involvement was pivotal when he commanded the opening shots against French soldiers, an event that snowballed into the global Seven Years' War. The war ultimately redefined the balance of power in North America, removed the French presence, and set the stage for future colonial dissatisfaction with British policies, contributing to the conditions that led to the American Revolution.