I watched the first installment of THE WAR THAT MADE AMERICA and thought that its most useful teaching element was the way it brought Native American agendas to the forefront -- giving a much fuller (and more complex) view to what is usually found in the textbook accounts. The Natives were not simply trying to choose sides between the two European powers, but looking also to seize opportunities to advance thier own positions. As for Washington's central place in the first hour, I expect that because the over-all narrative leads us to the creation of "America," focusing on Washington's viewpoint is particularly salient to that line of argument. The War was transformative for a Washington who once dreamed of being an English regular officer but ended up highly critical of the English -- laying the foundation for his eventual turn towards American independence. Similarly in the second hour, the experience of New Englanders in the war pointed in this direction. David Kiracofe David Kiracofe History Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus 1428 Cedar Road Chesapeake, Virginia 23322 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html