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Well guys, the first installment of…
The American Empire:
A Collaborative Timeline

Part 1, Section 1: The French and Indian War

The POD of this timeline is the French siege of Fort Necessity in the spring of 1754. During the skirmish, Washington and his entire party are killed by the French instead of being taken prisoner, due to a much more fierce fight the Americans put up. Outrage sparked throughout the colonies when news of the defeat came, and colonists demanded British support for their cause. They were sent General Edward Braddock in the fall of 1754, who took command of British soldiers in the American colonies. More colonial outrage at the Necessity Massacre, as the event came to be called, put enormous pressure on the man to attack as soon as possible. He set out with a huge force of nearly 2,000 British soldiers and 500 colonial militia members in mid-April, 1755. On April 29th, they are ambushed by French soldiers and Indian warriors, who easily pick off the redcoats, walking in straight lines through the forest. It slowly turns into a second massacre, as Braddock was killed and his men confused and frightened. Since George Washington wasn’t at the battle, there are no survivors; every last British and American soldier is killed. News of this greatly demoralizes the colonies and Britain. The French then move on the offensive, capturing several British forts. The British lose the Battle of Lake George, but they do manage to take Fort Beauséjour, securing the Nova Scotia colony and giving the British some breathing room. However, on December 29th, 1755, British politician William Pitt trips down the stairs and cracks his head open. The injury would prove fatal. As a result, he never becomes Secretary of State of Great Britain. Therefore, the colonies never received adequate funding or military commanders to fight the war, and Britain puts those fund into fighting other fronts of the Seven Year’s War. Native American raids into Pennsylvania and New York clear the way for even more daring French offensives. Philadelphia fell on May 6th, 1756, followed by Albany the following month. The British declared their colonies forsaken in August that year when they completely stopped sending troops and supplies, and encouraged the Americans to accept French rule. The Americans felt shocked and betrayed, but what could they do? The British shifted focus to fighting the French in Europe and India. But for the colonists, the nightmare wasn't over, it was only beginning. The Occupation had begun.

COMMENTARY: Well, it isn't a masterpiece, but I did research with my American history textbook, so what do you expect?;)
I'll have the next installment of my part of the TL up later today or tomorrow (remember, I'm up to 1790).
I'l link this thread to the writer's idea/sign-up thread, if you feel like contributing. But for now, what do you think?
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=118719
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