>Has anyone else been watching this documentary on the French Indian war? Part 2 is tonight on PBS.

Hi Evan,
You may be interested in a book http://www.walkerbooks.com/books/catalog.php?key=468 by Fowler (haven't read it but saw an interesting interview with him on TVO Studio2 [Ontario current affairs program]).
He maintains that the war you mention actually kicked off what he calls the real first world war.

Regards,

Ed