why the british want to expand control into the Ohio Valley in the mid-1700s?
The British wanted to expand control into the Ohio Valley in the mid-1700s mainly based on economic and strategic reasons.
1. Economic Reasons: The Ohio Valley was rich in fertile land and abundant natural resources, including fur-bearing animals, timber, and fertile soil for agriculture. British colonists saw this as an opportunity to establish profitable trade networks and expand their commercial ventures by accessing these resources. The fur trade was particularly lucrative, and gaining control over the Ohio Valley would guarantee British dominance in this industry.
2. Strategic Reasons: Control over the Ohio Valley would provide the British with a strong foothold in the region and allow them to secure their western frontier. By expanding into the region, the British aimed to prevent the French from establishing settlements and forts and challenging their control over the North American colonies. The Ohio Valley was considered a crucial link between the British colonies along the Atlantic coast and the interior territories.
Moreover, by expanding into the Ohio Valley, the British hoped to limit the westward expansion of their American colonists. They wanted to avoid conflicts and maintain control over their colonists by keeping them contained within the eastern coastal regions.