What was daily life actually like in North America before the American Revolution? In this episode of Who Else Loves History?, we dive deep into the contrasting worlds of English and French colonial life.
We begin our journey on the shores of New England, exploring the arrival of the Pilgrims, the first Thanksgiving, and the remarkable life of John Alden. After a brief look at how commerce and daily lifestyles differed between the English and French territories, we head into New France. Through immersive living history re-enactments, you will experience the fortified trading post of Fort de Chartres and daily routines in colonial Sainte Genevieve.
Next, we shift to the bustling English colonial cities. Author Nick Bunker joins us to discuss a young Benjamin Franklin navigating his 20s and 30s in Philadelphia. Finally, we examine the tense geopolitical conflict that changed everything: the French and Indian War. Discover how a young George Washington accidentally triggered the global conflict, and stick around until the end as author David O. Stewart explains how Washington rehabilitated his tarnished military reputation.
It’s all here in this episode of Who Else Loves History!
Time Code Breakdown for Stories Featured in this Episode:
- 0:00 to 01:40–John Cabot and Jacques Cartier Begin the Colonization of America
- 01:41 to 04:23–Settlement of Jamestown and Quebec City and Comparison of English and French Territorial Reach
- 04:24 to 13:18–Life in New England (Pilgrim Arrival, the Story of John Alden, First Thanksgiving)
- 13:19 to 15:29–Comparison of Lifestyle and Commerce in New England and New France
- 15;30 to 29:40–Life in New France (Living History Re-enactment at Fort de Chartres and Sainte Genevieve)
- 29:41 to 39:26–Life of Young Benjamin Franklin with Author Nick Bunker
- 39:27 to 43:40–French and Indian War and George Washington’s Blunder that Led to Its Start
- 43:41 to 45:51–Closing Remarks and Washington’s Rehabilitation with Author David O. Stewart
- 45:52 to 46:46–Credits
Quick Ideas for Using the Video with Students:
- Include the video as part of your students’ study of colonial America. Break the students into groups and have them view different parts of the video and then develop a presentation to share important information they learned with their classmates.
- Use the segment on the French and Indian War as students study that conflict. Did they know of George Washington’s role in the war before viewing the video? How does the story of his blunder that lead to the war’s beginning affect their point of view on America’s first President?
- Use the section on life in New England as students study the origins of America’s colonies and/or the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Use the living history section on French colonial life to give students additional insight into how daily life operated in New France. As part of the study have students, working independently or in groups, create their own living history presentation telling the story of an individual or group who also lived in New France such as a fur trader, French soldier, colonial farmer, explorer, etc.
- Use the section on young Benjamin Franklin as part of your students’ study of America’s founders. What additional insight do they gain into Franklin from what they learned from Mr. Bunker? How does his young life in Philadelphia compare and contrast with colonists growing up in other parts of America at the time?
