Lesson Plan - Washington's First War

Engage and Connect

Ask students to respond to this prompt: What makes someone a strong leader? What qualities and experiences do you think are most important? Do you consider yourself a strong leader? Why or why not? Have students write responses or record videos with a platform like Flipgrid. Invite them to share and discuss responses.

Preview Vocabulary

Use the online Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms ally, American Revolution, colony, confederacy, Continental Army, diplomatic, ensign, French and Indian War, Indigenous, regiment, Seven Years’ War, and treaty. Have students refer to the Skill Builder as they read.

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to underline or highlight details that help answer the “As You Read, Think About” questions.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• How does the author try to grab readers’ attention in the first paragraph? (Author’s Craft)
The author tries to create interest by starting with the idiom that George Washington was “in way over his head.” Readers might be surprised that a person known as a great general and leader in American history was inexperienced and having so much trouble. The first paragraph ends by saying that Washington was about to make a “serious, even tragic, blunder” but doesn’t provide details about what the mistake was, which might make readers interested to know more.

• What was George Washington’s role on May 28, 1754? What blunder did he make that day? (Key Details)
Washington was a lieutenant colonel from the British colony of Virginia. His blunder was letting a diplomatic mission turn into a massacre that helped start the French and Indian War. That day he was leading a group of 40 soldiers through the woods on their way to tell the French to leave Fort Duquesne on what the British considered their land. Washington’s ally, a Seneca chief named Tanaghrisson, wanted the British to attack the French. He led Washington and his men to the French camp. Shots were fired and almost half of the French soldiers were injured or killed. Tanaghrisson murdered the French leader Ensign Coulon de Jumonville with a hatchet, and then the Native warriors killed most of the wounded French soldiers.

• Summarize the section “Complicated Rivalries.” (Summarizing)
In 1754, North America contained several competing groups. Britain had 13 colonies on the east coast, and its settlers were outgrowing their land. France claimed much of the territory to the north and west, including much of what is now Canada, the Great Lakes area, and land along the Mississippi River. Both nations wanted to control more territory. However, many Indigenous peoples already lived in North America and wanted to keep their land. Some sided with the British, while others allied with the French. The six nations of the Haudenosaunee, a group known as the Iroquois Confederacy, tried to use the British and French against each other so they could claim the Ohio Country for themselves.

• What details support the idea that Washington “proved his worth as a soldier”? (Text Evidence)
Washington was an aide to Major General Edward Braddock during Britain’s disastrous attempt to take Fort Duquesne in 1755. More than two-thirds of their men were wounded or killed by French and Native warriors. But even as two horses were shot from under him, Washington stayed coolheaded and helped the surviving soldiers reach safety.

• How did Native Americans influence the outcome of the French and Indian War? (Cause and Effect)
Native Americans were directly involved in the war through fighting with either the French or the British. However, their support for the war subsided as more of their people died. In 1758, leaders of 13 Native nations signed the Treaty of Easton with British officials. They agreed to stop supporting the French in exchange for promises that Europeans would stop settling in their land in Ohio Country. This proved to be a turning point. Without Native support for the French, the British were able to seize Fort Duquesne. Then when the Iroquois Confederacy allied with the British, it “shifted the whole balance of power” from the French to the British.

• How does the map “North America, 1754” support the article? (Text Features)
The map shows which territory was claimed by the British and French and which was disputed or controlled by Indigenous peoples. Many of the 13 British colonies along the east coast are labeled. The map also shows the locations of two British forts and three French forts, which were placed near key rivers or lakes. Additionally, the area of influence of the Iroquois Confederacy is circled, revealing why that group was so influential in the conflict.

• How did the French and Indian War end? How did it help lead to the American Revolution? (Analyzing Events)
After losing support of Native groups and the alliance of the Iroquois Confederacy with the British, the French suffered heavy losses. Finally, they sought to negotiate peace. The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. But the war had left Britain with a heavy debt, which it tried to pay off by heavily taxing the colonies. Growing resentment among colonists led to talk of independence—and finally the American Revolution.

Analyze a Primary Source

Guide students to complete the Skill Spotlight activity at the end of the article. Help them cite specific details from the description in their responses.

Read a Map

Assign the Skill Builder Map Reading: North America, 1754 to have students answer 10 questions about a map of the region. You might challenge fast finishers to write two additional questions and swap with a classmate. Review responses and correct any misconceptions. For more map reading practice, check out our Map Skills Boot Camp with 13 lessons at junior.scholastic.com/mapskills.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.