French and Indian War

Virginia participates in the war (1754-1763) against French and Native American forces, contributing to rising anti-British sentiment. Virginia militia participated in expeditions against French forts in the Ohio Valley, suffering heavy losses at battles like Fort Necessity (1754) and Braddock’s Defeat (1755). The British victory ultimately led to increased tensions between the colonists and the British government, as the colonists resented having to pay taxes to support the war effort.