Worlds Turned Upside Down Episode 2: The Nadir
Oct 18, 2023
Fred Anderson, a noted historian and Professor Emeritus, dives deep into the complexities of the early North American conflicts during the Seven Years' War. He discusses how the Albany Congress failed to unite the colonies and how British commanders faced resistance from colonial governors. The episode highlights Braddock's missteps in wilderness warfare and the impact of his defeat on Indigenous alliances, particularly the shift of the Delawares towards the French. Anderson also examines the intricate dynamics of British diplomacy with the Haudenosaunee and the evolving wartime strategies.
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Matron's Journal After Braddock's Ambush
- Charlotte Brown recorded the horror after Braddock's defeat while serving as matron at Fort Cumberland and later Albany.
- Her journal details casualties, captives, and the chaos that followed the ambush near Fort Duquesne.
War's Global Scale Stretched Empires
- The Seven Years' War was global and required moving armies across oceans for the first time in scale and scope.
- Patrick Griffin emphasizes the unprecedented logistical and financial demands on European states.
Albany Plan's Political Limits
- The Albany Congress failed to create united colonial government despite producing the Albany Plan of Union authored partly by Benjamin Franklin.
- Intercolonial rivalry and local interests overrode collective imperial defense efforts.