[1][2] These rival tribes had purchased firearms from the colonists (by exchanging them for war captives), allowing them to gain a military advantage over the Choctaw.

[7] British colonists attempted to establish trade relations with the Eastern Division in 1731, but this effort failed when another war broke out between the Choctaw and the Chickasaw later that year.

Although he was not born into one of the hereditary chiefdoms that made up the Choctaw nation, Red Shoes was able to rise to the position of war-captain due to his war-won fame.

Red Shoe's trading with the British threatened to damage the tribe's relations with the French, and when it was discovered the chief was widely chastised by other Choctaw leaders.

[9][6] In addition, Red Shoes sought to enter peace negotiations with the Chickasaw, an idea which many Choctaw and French leaders strongly opposed.

[5][6] Fields went unattended - many farmers having been recruited for war parties - leading to a food shortage, and the movement of Choctaw warriors throughout the people's territory helped to spread disease.

[5] In 1743, the newly appointed governor of Louisiana, Pierre de Rigaud (seeking to cut the colony's expenses) decreased the annual gifts given to the Choctaw leaders and imposed new trading restrictions on French manufactured goods.

[5] In 1746, a trio of French traders in Couechitto were captured and executed (possibly in retaliation for raping a Choctaw woman[3]) by warriors loyal to Red Shoes.

The French also sent envoys to the Western Division, but were told by pro-French chiefs that they lacked the power to destroy Red Shoes and his pro-British supporters.

[11] Raids were common, and due to the dispersed nature of Choctaw settlements, entire villages were often slaughtered before their respective division could arrive to aid them.

Using Fort Tombecbe as a base, the French sent colonial troops to aid their eastern allies in battle, offering three times the pre-war price for enemy scalps.

[5][3] With British support, the Western Division launched an unsuccessful attack on the key eastern-aligned town of Oulitacha that cost the lives of over 100 warriors from both sides.