A thousand years ago, when I was a university student, I remember my professor commenting that the SYW/FIW could reasonably be called the first world war. It is because England and France flailed at each other in Europe, North America, and India, that gives it that flavor. France entered in on Austria's side, because because Louis XV's Madame Pomadour decided to end the emnity with the emperor and remove Prussia as a threat. England joined to keep France in line, and changed its relationship with Austria in the process. Russia joined in because her Empress saw an opportunity to pick up property in East Prussia but switched sides when she died and her Prussia/Frederick fan brother came to the throne.
England sent troops, not too many, and lots of money to help out Prussia. She kept her real forces to kick the French out of India once and for all and to gain control of North America. So, the real winner of that one was England.

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