George Washington, warmonger?

Did George Washington cause or start the Seven Years War? If he hadn't done what he did would it have started anyway? How different would it have been? Remember "Thou are not dead yet, my father?"
 

Flubber

Banned
Did George Washington cause or start the Seven Years War?


No. The tensions between European powers already existed thanks to the War of Austrian Succession. North America was just one of many fronts, just like India and Pomerania.

If he hadn't done what he did would it have started anyway?

Yes, and see above.

How different would it have been?

That's a good question. Washington's missions were the result of Virginia's land speculations in the Ohio Valley. They served no strategic need in a UK vs. France conflict. However, once Virginia was repulsed it called for British assistance, the Braddock expedition occurred after several months of indecision, and the shit hit the fan.

Braddock was all but wiped out, the UK/Colonies became fixated on Fort Duquesne, and men and supplies were constantly diverted from the North American fronts which actually mattered in several attempts to take the fort.

Duquesne was a strategic incubus. It diverted UK attention, troops, and materials away from those fronts which actually mattered, namely northern and western New York along with the Maritimes.

Remove Washington or remove the reasons behind his missions to the Ohio Valley and the UK most likely winds up the wind in North America earlier. Whether the loss of Canada effects France's decision to negotiate earlier is debatable. In the OTL, France traded Canada for a couple sugar islands in the Caribbean the UK had also seized.
 
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