Part One of the Founding of a Nation Series As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, travel back to the beginning of our nation's story to discover how the road to independence first began. Long before George Washington became the first president, he was a young officer whose experiences during the French and Indian War helped spark an Imperial Crisis that changed history. Armed with letters, maps, military orders, and other primary sources, you'll investigate the events that strained the relationship between Great Britain and its colonies. Think like a historian as you analyze evidence, compare different perspectives, and uncover how Washington's early experiences helped set the stage for the American Revolution.