Dear Trevor and Will,

The French and Indian War was the last in a series of wars between France and England for control of North America. Appropriately enough, this world war is said to have “begun” in the American wilderness on May 28, 1754, when a small group of 40 Virginians, under the command of George Washington, surprised a group of 35 French soldiers and killed or captured them all except one. The Virginians were attempting to secure a very strategic location where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet (Pittsburgh, Penn., is now located here). The French also claimed this territory and had started construction of a fort there, which they named Fort Duquesne. Washington was on his way to challenge the French when he encountered the group of French soldiers and attacked. So a very small skirmish marks the beginning of what Americans call the French and Indian War or the Seven Years’ War.

The British colonists called it the French and Indian War because they were fighting against the French and their Indian allies, but the English-speaking colonists had Indian allies too. In fact, Washington’s men were led to the French soldiers by Indian guides, who participated in the action. In the end, the British won and forced the French to give up all claims to land east of the Mississippi River, including Canada and Louisiana.

In what is now our state, the French lost Mobile as well as two forts: Fort Tombecbé in west Alabama and Fort Toulouse, also known as the Alabama Fort, near Wetumpka. Fortunately for us, the Alabama Historical Commission has preserved the site of Fort Toulouse and Alabamians can experience the sights and sounds of eighteenth-century frontier life at Fort Toulouse during Frontier Days held there in November. For more information about Fort Toulouse, visit http://www.preserveala.org/forttoulouse.html

Thanks for your question,
Aubie and Dr. Braund