Did George Washington really start the French and Indian War?
Why should we remember a battle that took place over 260 years ago?
Today, we investigate the answers to those questions as we explore the Battle of the Monongahela with David Preston, author of Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we explore the Battle of the Monongahela with David Preston, the Westvaco Professor of National Security Studies at The Citadel and author of Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution.
During our exploration, David reveals where the Battle of the Monongahela took place and why it happened; The roles that British, French, and Native American soldiers and warriors played in the battle; And, why we should remember the Battle of the Monongahela when it took place 260 years ago.
What You’ll Discover
- Why we should remember the Battle for the Monongahela (1755)
- Conventional and unconventional warfare in a tribal context
- Overview of the Battle of the Monongahela (1755)
- Context of the French and Indian War
- The Jumonville Affair (1754)
- George Washington’s involvement in the Jumonville Affair
- Edward Braddock
- French officers who fought against Braddock
- Military experience of the French and British officers and soldiers at the Monongahela
- Native American warriors involved in the Battle of the Monongahela
- Logistical challenge of bringing Braddock’s personnel and equipment to Fort Duquesne
- The road that Braddock’s men cut through the Allegheny Mountains
- Benjamin Franklin’s role in Braddock’s Expedition
- How the Battle of the Monongahela contributed to Washington’s military education
- How Washington came by his Native American name “Conotocarious”
- What Braddock bequeathed to Washington on his deathbed

Links to People, Places, and Publications
- David Preston
- David’s Citadel webpage
- Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution
- The Texture of Contact: European and Indian Settler Communities on the Frontiers of Iroquoia, 1667-1783
- Episode 29: Colin Calloway, The Victory With No Name
Time Warp Question
In your opinion what might have happened if the British had sent out another expedition to Fort Duquesne? Would the British have secured the Ohio Valley and the confluence of the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny Rivers?
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