More than a physical structure, the Fortress at Louisbourg stood as a symbol of French power in the New World. It also represented the bitter struggle between two global powers for control of North America. After the fortress was completed on the eastern coast of Cape Breton, it became a commercial hub where 150 ships put into harbour every year. It also allowed the French to control the St. Lawrence River and was a jumping-off point for raiding villages along the New England coast as the New Englanders were still subjects of and loyal to the British crown.

Following are some activities you may explore with your class after having viewed the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) documentary film, "Louisbourg Under Siege." These activities are appropriate for Grades 4+.

Research Activities:

Have your students complete at least two of the following:

1. What strategy did the New Englanders employ in their successful siege of the fortress? What accounted for their success? Why was the strategy unusual when compared to conventional military thinking of the day (1745)? Write a brief report.
2. Describe the way of life in the town of Louisbourg. What impact did the change in seasons have? Was the lifestyle similar to or different from that of France?
3. The fortress was returned to France by the British in 1748. Ten years later, the British laid siege to it again. What was the reason for this chain of events? Why did the British return the fortress only to attack it again? What was the outcome of the attack?
4. In the film, several historians mention that the sequence of events around the two sieges of the fortress laid the groundwork for two significant historical events. One event took place in North America and the other in Europe. What were these events and how did the siege of the fortress play a role?

Have your students complete at least one of the following:

1. Complete a detailed scale drawing of the fortress and the town. Make sure you include the gun batteries on the shore and perimeter of the fortress. Include an explanation of the drawing.
2. You are a reporter accompanying the New Englander expeditionary force. As the siege is ongoing, file your stories documenting the progress of the battle.
3. Build a scale model of a military sailing vessel. Make it as realistic as possible. List as many parts on a separate sheet, i.e., how many guns on the vessel, sails, men, etc.
4. Write and perform a one-act play on the theme of the siege. Present it from the perspective of a young child or youth living in the town as the New Englanders or the British lay siege to the fortress.