In the next few weeks, I will talk about Canada at War. It is logical to start talking about these wars chronologically so this week, I will talk about pre-modern war (or any war before World War I).
It would be hard to classify the Seven-Year War as a Canadian war but hell it happened in Canada. The seven year war (as it is called in Canada, as opposed to "French and Indian War" in the US). The Seven-Year war was a European War. What does that have to do with Canada? The answer is, There was a war going on in North America between the British and the French (Mostly Canadian-born since France was at war in Europe). The Conflict started in 1756 when Prussia took an Austrian Province. Austria asked Russia, Spain and France to help, while Prussia got the British. The British, instead of giving men, mostly helped the Prussians with ammunition. The men went to America to help the already started conflict in America. The American conflict had begun in 1755, The French held Canada (Territory north of the Great Lakes) and Louisiana (Mississippi and Ohio valleys) both combined as New France. The British held the Thirteen Colonies, Acadia (won in 1713) and a part of the Hudson Bay surroundings (owned by the Hudson Bay Company). The British crushed between French Territory and the Atlantic wandered in French Territory every so often and the French wanting to defend their territory sent Indians to raid British Villages, but then again so did the British's Indian allies. So these minor conflicts were always happening in North America.
The Major conflict that led up to the War was the attack of Canadian Scouts by British men led by George Washington near Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh). 10 Canadians were killed and Washington was accused of assassinating the men during Peacetime. England and France Both sent regiments to protect the claimed borders. These "European" British (as opposed to the "American" British) launched another attack in a European manner. They marched with drums beating and all that stuff. One word can describe the whole battle: Slaughter.
