Empire 269. Colonising Canada: The Truth Behind ‘The Last of The Mohicans’ (Ep 3)
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Jul 2, 2025 Maya Jasanoff, a Harvard history professor and author, joins the discussion to unravel the truths behind 'The Last of the Mohicans'. They explore the profound impacts of the French and Indian War on Canada's landscape and relationships with Indigenous peoples. The conversation dives into the complexities of colonial alliances and critiques the representation of Indigenous characters in media. Jasanoff highlights how the Seven Years' War shaped the dynamics of the British Empire, setting the stage for future conflicts in North America.
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Film Exaggerates Fort William Henry Massacre
- "The Last of the Mohicans" depicts the Fort William Henry massacre but exaggerates native savagery.
- The real event was a smaller-scale conflict amid larger French-British tensions in the Seven Years' War.
Demographics Shape North America
- The 1750s conflict in Canada was between British colonies on the eastern seaboard and French controlled New France.
- New France had vast territory but a small population compared to rapidly growing British colonies.
Braddock's Failed Expedition
- Braddock led a British regular army expedition into the Ohio country to attack Fort Duquesne in 1755.
- Despite arrogance, he was badly defeated by French forces using superior tactics suited to the terrain.
