who fought in the french and indian war

The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was fought primarily between Great Britain and France over control of North America, with both sides supported by various Native American tribes. The British colonies, backed by the British Army and allied with the Iroquois Confederacy, sought to expand westward. The French, supported by many Native American tribes including the Algonquin- speaking peoples like the Wabanaki Confederacy, Mi'kmaq, Abenakis, and Shawnee, aimed to maintain control of the Ohio River Valley and expand their fur trade. Key combatants on the British side included British regular troops, provincial colonial militias, and figures like George Washington and General Edward Braddock. The French forces comprised French colonial militia, Marines, and regular French Army soldiers sent from France. Native American tribes fought on both sides but were predominantly aligned with the French due to existing alliances and shared interests. Thus, the war featured a complex alliance system with Great Britain and its American colonists, along with the Iroquois Confederacy, fighting against France, French colonists, and a coalition of various Native American tribes supporting the French.