MODULE 3
Our two colonies New France and the 13 colonies were controlled by the two super powers of the day, France and Britain.
France was more concerned about it’s affairs in Europe while Britain worried more about establishing an empire.
By 1760 New France 70,000 ppl
13 Colonies 1 500,000 ppl
New France was a weak economy, held back by mercantilist policies, centered on furs.
British colonies had more freedom and were very prosperous
France and Britain were bitter enemies in Europe for centuries, over issues such as religion, and, power.
These issues spilled over to their colonies, and we see multiple wars:
-The First Intercolonial WarEnds with the Treaty of Ryswick 1697
-The Second Intercolonial WarEnds with the Treaty of Utrecht 1713
-The Third Intercolonial WarEnds with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 1748
-The Four Intercolonial War (a.k.a. the 7yrs War) is more complicated and requires further analyses
The Seven Years War (1756-1763)
-Important to understand there was fighting going in both Europe and North America (the battle for N.A. ends first in 1760)
-The British try for many years to take New France by land. --This was unsuccessful, so a sea attack was planned.
-The English first take Louisbourg an extremely powerful fort
-They then sail down river to attack Quebec, a battle which would decide the colony of New France and the future of Canadian History.
THE CONQUEST OF NEW FRANCE
New France (Catholics) ~70,000
13 Colonies (Protestants) ~ 1,500,000
3 theaters of battle- Great Lakes/Niagara
Montreal/Albany
St-Lawrence
(Points about the 7yrs War….you do not NEED to know)
Forts Oswego + William Henry Fall to the French, French were also wining in Europe
Prime Minister Pitt Policies (Finance war in Europe, send troops to America’s)
Louisbourg falls again in 1758, clears way to enter the St-Lawrence and attack Quebec
English General Wolfe (8,000)
French General Marquis de Montcalm (12,000 men)
Quebec “Where the River Narrows” strategic position is now a War time city
Siege begins June of 1759, 200 ships (1/9 of British fleet)
Quebec had been safe during winter months(Inside the Citadel), but is now in need of supplies, British control the waters
English first establish themselves on Ile d’Orleans.
English fleet attacked by fire ships, fail
British establish themselves on southern river bank, French had placed their defenses on the North/East
Brits begin bombing the lower city in July Turn City to Rubble
Beauport attack by Brits fail, French thought it was main attack.
Governor Vaudreuil writes to the king, “Don’t worry about Que. Anymore”
Vaudreuil also wants more Indian support, Montcalm does not agree.
Brits take revenge on countryside, crops, houses, livestock burned
TIME IS RUNNING OUTWinter
Montcalm has placed 3000 men up river (32km) under Col. Bouganville
At the last minute Wolfe discovers a small path, up the cliffs (53m) at Anse-Aux-Foulons
Wolfe gives his orders where to land and in the middle of the night the English set out across the river.
Nearly caught by sentries (guards) at the base, but they were expecting supplies, an English officer managed to land by speaking French.
The English spend the night scalling the cliffs, by morning they’ve assembled on the open plains next to the fort, on the Plains of Abraham, a local farmer.
Montcalm makes the decision (mistake) to attack rather than defend
On the battlefield the English numbered about 3,000, the French nearly 4,000 (Bouganville had another 3,000 but they were too far away)
The battle last about an hour.(start 10am)
Both sides had about 600 dead each
Both Generals are fatally wounded (with great dying lines)
English win as a result of better tactics, surprise, skilled manpower…and a little bit of luck.
WOLFE’S DEATH
MONTCALM’S DEATH
THE CONQUEST OF NEW FRANCE
7yrs War 1756-63…the 4th Inter-colonial War
Battle on the Plains of Abraham (1759) Wolf (Eng.) vs. Montcalm (Fr.) both Generals die, English win, Quebec falls, any remaining French troops retreat to Montreal, where the will shortly give up (Capitulate) 1760. The fighting will continue in Europe for another 3 yrs.
The Conflict Overall: New France never stood a chance at defeating the 13 colonies. Britain had more sea power, and could easily sent troops/supplies. France was focused on the war in Europe.
Although the French had won a small battle at Sainte-Foy in the spring major conflict ended in N.F. with the fall of Quebec, the French troops waited out the winter in Montreal, and then in September a document was signed giving the terms under which the French would surrender. The document was called the ARTICLES OF CAPITUALTION(1760) and it stated:
- The French Militia could return home, no one would lose their property
- The French Regular military would lay down their arms and leave.
- The people could practice the R.C. religion, but the Bishop would have to leave.
- The people who stayed would become British Subjects.
No mass deportation occurred(only the Elite left because they could afford to do so) the fate of the colony was still undecided and so the colony waited under British Military Rule of James Murray, until the war in Europe would end.
1763 Treaty of Paris 7rys war ends. All the Territory known as New France is given to the King of England except two small Islands, (St.Pierre, Miquelon)
Now that the King was sure the colony was under his control he needed to do something about this mass number of new subjects who were French speaking. A constitution was put in place to control these French Brinish subjects and try and change them to be more British (assimilate them).
It was called the ROYAL PROCLAMATION 1763:
What did it do:
1- It gives the King’s new colony a name, The Province of Quebec
2- It decreases the borders to just around the St-Lawrence river valley.
(The rest would be known as Indian Territory)
3- Put in place a civilian Government to run the new
Colony: The King appointed a Governor who then appointed members of an Executive Council to advise him.
4- English Criminal and Civil laws were applied.
5- Unused land would be divided by the Township System
6-No new Bishop would be allowed
7-No Roman Catholics could hold public office (Test Act)
-The Royal Proc. Had a goal to control and assimilate the French in Quebec, It did this by bringing them all together as to watch over them, and took many of their rights away so as to force them to become more English.
-No new French speaking people were coming in but many Eng. were.
-Most of the British who came would be rich merchants who would fill the place of the French Elite would had left.
The first Governor of this new colony James Murray knew his job of assimilation would be no easy task.
Difficulties of the first Governors
- James Murray found the Royal Proclamation unworkable, only 1% of the population of Quebec was Eng/Protestant. To make the rest of the French Roman Catholics content, he bent the rules.
-He allowed a new Bishop (Monseigneur Briand)
-He allowed French laws in the lower courts
-He did not call an elected assembly because it would favor the
English Merchants
The English Merchants were strongly apposed to the Governor’s policies and demanded a new Governor from the King. They got Guy Carleton…who would kept the same tolerant polices of Murray.
Carleton had a special reason to be tolerant towards the French in Quebec….He wanted to have their loyalty as the Americans were beginning to demand their Independence.
“No one is happy in the new Province of Quebec”
-The 13 colonies were unhappy because they had fought to gain control of the Ohio Valley however it was denied to them.
-British merchants who had come to Quebec were unhappy because they wanted to have power through an elected assembly similar to those in the 13 colonies, and they expected the colony to favor English interests.
-The Canadians were fearful of the Proclamation because of the changes it brought. They too didn’t like the new boundary.
-They were scared of a possible elected assembly
-Uneasy about lack of guarantees to their religion
James Murray French were lucky to have him, however the British merchants were fed up of his policies and Murray was recalled in 1766.
Guy Carleton Quickly he adopts the same attitude as the first Governor “To the end of time, this colony will be peopled by the Canadian Race”
Since this is the case you might as well make them happy, and he could also gain their loyalty (Because of the Americans).
This lead to the creation of the Quebec Act 1774
-Guarantees French Canadian loyalty
-Enlarges the area of Quebec
-Denied an elected assembly
-Appointed council (min.17 members)
-French civil laws were instated, tithe and seigniorial system are back
-Test Act Oath Test Oath of Allegiance (swear to king you’re loyal, and could hold office)
ALL THESE FACTORS MADE THE AMERICANS VERY UPSET!
What was going on in the States…
-Up until 1763 the Americans needed British protection from the French.
-They wanted Western Expansion into the Ohio Valley
-Britain was unhappy with the 13 colonies. (did not give enough in war)
-Some Americans had also been trading with the French, therefore….
Britain wanted to place strict control on trade and inc. taxes.
OTHER ACTS YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW:The King felt that the Americans should pay for the costs of the war.
Stamp Act 1765 Tax only on Americans, on all newspapers, legal docs.
Declaratory Act King could pass laws on 13 colonies
Townshed Act Duties on glass, paints, paper, and tea (Boston Tea Party)
Quebec Act 1774 Seen as the last straw
-American congress coin the phrase “No taxation without representation”
-The Declaration of Independence is issued to the King 1776
-American Revolution Begins 1776
REACTIONS TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
-Before the revolution had begun the Americans had asked the Canadiens to join in their cause against the British but because of all the assurances they received in the Quebec Act they said NO.
-As a reaction to that the Americans attacked the Province of Quebec several times. (Once even capturing Montreal)
-The British final defeat was in Yorktown 1781, and a peace treaty was signed in 1783 (Treaty of Versailles)
-The British then accepted the United States as an independent country.
-Quebec had profited from the war by having its farmers feed the army
-The fur trade which had been located largely in south of the Great Lakes had to relocate. Now had to move towards the Northwest this meant much longer journeys for les voyageurs (Grand Portage)
-Lead to the creation of a fur trading company “North West Company” by men such as McGill, McTavish.
-All the territory south of the Great Lakes was now apart of the USA, and all the people who had been loyal to the King of England during the war of Indep. had to find a new place to live. The moved north to the only British colony left in North America (QUEBEC)
-We call these people LOYALISTS
-We are about to see a large influx of English people come to live in a colony dominated by French peopleConflict will arise!
Effects of the Loyalists
36,000 loyalists came to Canada (Most settled in the Maritimes)
6,000 loyalists came to Quebec (Most settled West of Montreal)
The English population of Quebec had a sudden increase (1% 10%)
They settled according to the Township system.
They gave their settlements English names.
The Loyalists were used to English civil laws.
They were used to having elected assemblies.
They started writing petitions to London for change.
After years of complaining they finally got their wish