Unit Central Question:
How did the cultural characteristics, beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and economic conditions of the French, English, and Indians contribute to the growth of inter-group hostilities, fighting, and attacks in the late 17th and early 18th centuries?
Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and Teacher Background
- In 1701, the king of France secured the throne of Spain for his son, altering the balance of power in Europe and precipitating the outbreak of war in Europe. England entered the conflict in 1702, declaring war on both France and Spain. This war, known as the War of Spanish Succession in Europe and Queen Anne’s War in the colonies, came upon the heels of earlier wars and conflicts between the English and French.
- The war, fought in the colonies as well as in Europe, had an important impact on the relations between the French and English in the colonies. These old enemies, already competing and fighting over land and access to natural resources in North America, had even more incentive to fight one another. The English and the French each formed alliances with different groups of Native Americans who brought their own intra-national disagreements to the conflict. Consequently, the war significantly and adversely affected the relationships between the Europeans and Native Americans and the relationships among Native American nations.
- The French shared the English concept of individual rights to land ownership, but their use of land was different from the English. They used the land to promote commerce and establish business partnerships as a means of gaining wealth.
- The contrast in religious beliefs between the French and the English contributed in part to the attack on Deerfield in 1704. The beliefs held by the English Puritans and French Catholics were in direct conflict with each other. One of the reasons the French came to America was to establish missions. Many French were Catholics and served as missionaries to the Indians. The French Catholics, especially the missionaries and their agents, were motivated to convert non-Catholics to their faith.
- The introduction of European disease such as measles and smallpox, attacks by the Mohawks, and the English occupation of their land all contributed to the weakening and eventual displacement of the Pocumtucks.
For more information, read:
Teacher Background essay Queen Anne’s War
Intended Learning Outcomes:
Understandings
Students will understand that:
- the nature and details (the “who, where, what, when, why, and how”) of The War of Spanish Succession (Queen Anne’s War).
- the ways this European war affected events in North America and in Deerfield.
- that rather than establish settlements and farms like the English, French men used the land to become trappers and traders, and they established business relationships with the Indians. They also served as soldiers and priests on the land they called New France.
- that a variety of factors influenced the weakening and displacement of the Pocumtucks. These factors included death by diseases such as measles and smallpox, attacks by the Mohawks, and English acquisition of Pocumtuck lands.
- why the Pocumtucks no longer had access to their land and what happened to them as a result.
Skills
Students will:
- learn to do research on the internet using search engines.