The Battle of Fort Beausejour occurred between June 3 and June 16, 1755. It was one of the first battles of the French and Indian War.

2,000 British soldiers under the command of Robert Mockton besieged the fort on June 3. British forces hoped to capture Fort Beausejour to gain control of the nearbly Isthmus of Chignecto, which connects the peninsula of Nova Scotia with the rest of North America. French defensive forces, numbering only 162, withstood the siege and bombardment for thirteen days before surrendering on June 16.

Discussion Questions

• Why was Fort Beauséjour an important strategic location for both the British and the French?
• How did the difference in troop numbers affect the outcome of the battle?
• What does the battle tell us about the early stages of the French and Indian War?
• Why might the British have wanted to secure control of Nova Scotia at this point in history?

Glossary

• Siege – A military operation in which forces surround a place to cut off supplies and force a surrender.
• Fort Beauséjour – A French fort near the border of present-day New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.
• Isthmus of Chignecto – A narrow strip of land that connects Nova Scotia to the rest of mainland North America.
• Bombardment – A continuous attack with bombs, shells, or other weapons.
• Surrender – To give up control of a place or position to an enemy.