Sunday, May 8, 2011

Friday, May 6th

French and Indian War College:

Today was Lesson #3 - "The French win in the beginning"

Students learned about early French victories. Two case studies were used to support the lesson.

Case Study #1  Fort Carillon - Beginning in 1755/1756, the French began to construct a massive timber and stone fort on the Ticonderoga peninsula on the southern end of Lake Champlain. It was made in the Vauban style. We learned about Sebastien Vauban. Mr. M explained that Fort Carillon/Ticonderoga is a gem of American History and we are lucky to have it!


Case Study #2 - The attack on Fort William Henry in 1757. A discussion was held first on the story of this battle and the people involved. Using one of the best movies out there to show what this time period was like (Last of the Mohicans), Although there are inaccuracies in the movie, like any movie dealing with a historical subject, it really does a great job showing the vast wilderness of the North American continent and the beauty and brutality of life in the mid-1700s. Mr. M showed four scenes:
  • The ambush on the way to Fort William Henry (Ex. La Petite Guerre )
  • The siege of Fort William Henry by the French (European siege tactic - digging to get close for mortars/howitzers)
  • The demonstration of mortars/howitzers to force forts surrender (European siege tactic)
  • The massacre after the surrender (Ex. La Petite Guerre)

    No comments: