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JUMONVILLE

The Jumonville Incident

by Jeff Fortney and Nicolas W. Proctor

This game is transitioning to the new Reacting Short Game Framework. Stay tuned for more updates as the game progresses through the review process!


Young George Washington is Outfoxed by the French and Their Indian Allies

It is the early 1750s in North America. Constant struggles between the British and French empires draw in colonists, indigenous populations, and other European powers. Now, a new flashpoint has developed for this rivalry: the Ohio Country. Control of the sources of the Ohio River offer both sides significant strategic advantages; the area has been a buffer zone between the two empires. A tenuous peace had existed because of complex webs of alliances, but now, encroachments have caused rampant intrigue and mistrust among the colonists and natives on all sides. The Jumonville Incident, and thus the French and Indian War, is about to begin. In this microgame, students will take on the roles of figures from all factions in this contested event. The game focuses on debates around differing interpretations of the incident, along with such questions as: who shot first, what were the intentions of the French, and how responsible were Washington's actions as a commander?

ABOUT THE GAME

Details

Disciplines
History


Era 
18th Century; Early Modern Period

Themes and Issues  
Colonial frontier; Close text reading; Colonialism

In a Few Words...

Rashomon on the Frontier

Sample Class Titles

Colonial America; US History Part 1

Level
Microgame (what's that mean?


Geography 
United States of America


Using the Game

Class Time  
This game should take two class sessions to complete.


Possible Reacting Game Pairings
This microgame can be used on its own, or with other games. These pairings are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive or prescriptive. The Jumonville Incident may pair well with:


Class Size

This microgame is recommended for classes with 18 to 25 students.


Assignments

The first learning objective of the game is to improve player use of primary source documents. It does this by giving them experience reading multiple historical documents that describe the same series of events in different ways. The second objective is to encourage students to reflect upon the ways that the information in these documents can be combined into written narratives that may have divergent meanings.


GAME MATERIALS

Gamebook

All students need a Gamebook, which includes resources and historical content. Members can download the Gamebook, and provide it to students for free or at cost.

Instructor's Manual

The Instructor's Manual includes guidance for assigning roles, presenting historical context, assignments, activities and discussion topics, and more.

Role Sheets

Students also need a Role Sheet, which contains biographical information, suggestions for further reading, and role-specific info or assignments.  


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jeff Fortney

Jeff Fortney is Assistant Professor of History and History MA Program Coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University. His research and teaching areas include US history with a focus on Native American, African America, and Civil War history. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from University of North Texas and a PhD from University of Oklahoma.


Reacting and Related Titles

  • "Between Two Fires": The Civil War Comes to Indian Territory

Nicolas W. Proctor

Nicolas W. Proctor grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. After completing his B.A. in history from Hendrix College, he received an M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations from the University of Kentucky, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from Emory University. He is now a Professor of History at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he has also served as department chair and director of the first-year program. Proctor is also the Chair of the Reacting Editorial Board, overseeing game development. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his family, a print shop, lots of books, five chickens, and too many Legos.

After completing a traditional historical monograph, Bathed in Blood: Hunting and Mastery in the Old South, he reoriented his research to fit the needs of a teaching institution and focused on writing historical role-playing games.


QUESTIONS

Members can contact game authors directly

We invite instructors join our Facebook Faculty Lounge, where you'll find a wonderful community eager to help and answer questions. We also encourage you to submit your question for the forthcoming FAQ, and to check out our upcoming events


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Red Clay, 1835: Cherokee Removal and the Meaning of Sovereignty

reacting@barnard.edu

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