Topic: Arkansas Post was actually seven different French and Spanish forts that existed along the lower Arkansas River in three geographic locations.

Objective: The student will be able to locate on a map the 3 geographic locations of the seven Arkansas Posts and explain the reason for each location move.

Set: Begin by asking and discussing the following questions: Why was the mouth of the Arkansas River an important location for the Arkansas Post? Why do you think the Post was rebuilt and relocated so many times?

Materials: Arkansas History Textbook, Early Arkansas Map that shows location of Arkansas Post (I use the one found in THE ARKANSAS POST STORY by Roger E. Coleman.)

Key Terms: post, fort, block house, bluff, stockades, garrison, trading house, channel

Key Facts: Post 1 - (1686-1698) - Henri de Tonti built trading house and commerce with Quapaw Indians. Abandoned in 1698

Post 2 - (1721-1726) - In 1722 La Harpe found French garrison in same location as Post 1 across from Quapaw village. Law colony 3 miles from the post.Abondoned in 1728

Post 3 - (1732-1751) - Lt. Coulange and 12 men came to the Arkansas in 1732 and selected same site as Post 1 and 2. Attacked by Chickasaw Indians; forced post to move.

Post 4 (1751-1756) - New site for Post selected by LaHoussaye 45 miles above the mouth of the Mississippi. Location too inaccessible for boat traffic on Mississippi. Moved in 1756.

Post 5 - (1756-1779) Relocated 3 miles from Mississippi. In 1778 a damaging flood forced change in location.

Post 6 - (1779-1792) - In 1779 Commandant deVilliers reported move to Red Bluffs had been accomplished. Called post "Ft. Carlos III". Four rises in the river eroded Ft. Carlos III away.

Post 7 - (1792-1812) Commandant De Chalmette selected new location next to Post 6 location and built a fort named San Esteban. 1803 - Becomes U.S. territory under Louisiana Purchase. Became Ft. Madison - maintained garrison until War of 1812.

Activities: Divide students into seven groups. Each group will read and discuss the information on the post it has been assigned. Then each group will locate the post on the map and tell how and why the post was located in that particular area and tell why that post was abandoned.

Closure: After group presentations on each of the 7 posts, students will be asked to summarize information and draw conclusions as to the main reasons tha Arkansas Post was rebuilt and relocated so many times.

Assessment: Students will be asked to write a paragraph in which they compare and contrast the reasons people move in today's world with the reasons the inhabitants of the Arkansas Post moved.

Resources: Burney B. McClurkan, "Fort Desha, the Location of Arkansas Post, ca. 1735-1750," THE CONFERENCE ON HISTORIC SITES ARCHEOLOGY PAPERS. Vol. 6, Part 2, Sections 1 and 2.

Arnold, Morris S., "The Relocation of Arkansas Post to Ecores Rouges in 1779," ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, 42 (Winter 1983), pp. 320-321.

Coleman Roger, E., THE ARKANSAS POST STORY, Southwest Cultural Resources Center, Professional Papers No. 12, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1987