1. 1.4 The Fall of New France

2. British-French Hostilities
Between , Britain and France were engaged in the War of Spanish Succession in Europe, but hostilities between the two empires erupted in North American as well.
In 1713, the signing of the Treaty of Ultrecht (which ended both the War of the Spanish Succession in Europe, as well as fighting between the British and French on the East Cost of North America) drastically changed the balance of power and size of territory for Nouvelle-France.
Under the Treaty, France surrendered possession of almost all of Newfoundland (except some fishing rights), Hudson Bay, and Acadia to Britain.

3. Why did France give up Acadia while keeping the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique during peace treaty negotiations between British and France after the War of Spanish Succession?
Each side agreed to give back some of the colonies it had captured in the war. Britain had offered to either return Acadia or Guadeloupe and Martinique. Those islands grew sugar, which was a very great valuable item in Europe. France agreed to keep them and give up Acadia, thinking it could still get furs from New France.

5. Acadia
In 1749, New France was at peace and had a population of 50,000, but in Acadia, peaceable French farmers lived on the fault line where New France and New England met.
Acadia had been handed back and forth between France and England at least six times. Its next handover would make scapegoats of these loyal farmers and their descendants.

6. In 1730 the British authorities persuaded the Acadians to swear, if not allegiance, at least neutrality in any conflict between Britain and France.
But over the years the position of the Acadians in Nova Scotia became more and more precarious.
France raised the stakes by building the great fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island.
In 1749 the English countered this threat by establishing a naval base at Halifax.

7. With the Treaty of Ultrecht, Acadia was handed over to the British.
Overnight, Acadians were asked to pledge an oath.
The oath required the Acadians to switch their allegiance from France to the British, recognized the British as the new rulers of the area, but guaranteed that the Acadians would not be called to service in times of war against France.

8. In 1754, Charles Lawrence was named governor of Nova Scotia
In 1754, Charles Lawrence was named governor of Nova Scotia. Lawrence did not like the idea of the Acadians being neutral.
He demanded the Acadians take another oath of loyalty, but this time without the condition that allowed them to refuse to take up arms against the French.
When the Acadians refused, he ordered, on reasons of “military expediency,” the mass expulsion of all Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755.
The homes and crops of the Acadians were destroyed, and the land was later occupied by the British.

9. Between 1755 and 1763, approximately 10,000 Acadians were deported.
They were shipped to many points around the Atlantic. Large numbers were landed in the English colonies, others in France or the Caribbean.
Thousands died of disease or starvation in the squalid conditions on board ship.
To make matters worse, the inhabitants of the English colonies, who had not been informed of the imminent arrival of disease-ridden refugees, were furious.

10. Several thousand of them eventually settled in French- ruled Louisiana, where their descendants became known as Cajuns.
The expulsion proved to have been as unnecessary on military grounds as it was later judged inhumane. Lawrence's lack of imagination played as big a part as greed, confusion, misunderstanding, and fear.

11. Ethical Dimensions
What questions could you ask to explore the ethical dimensions of Lawrence’s decision to expel the Acadians?

12. The Seven Years War
The Seven Years War (1756–63) was the first global war, fought in Europe, India, and America, and at sea.
In North America, imperial rivals Britain and France struggled for supremacy. Early in the war, the French (aided by Canadian militia and Aboriginal allies) defeated several British attacks and captured a number of British forts.
In 1758, the tide turned when the British captured Louisbourg, followed by Québec City in and Montréal in 1760.
With the Treaty of Paris of 1763, France formally ceded Canada to the British.

14. Once war was declared, France’s attention was focused on winning the war in Europe. Britain, however, began to concentrate on winning the war in North America.
The area just south of the Great Lakes, known as the Ohio Valley, was the main area of contention. Each side thought it had claim.
When the Seven Year’s War in Europe broke out, the French troops in North America relied heavily on supplies shipped from France; the British, on the other hand, could supply their troops from supplies in North America and used their naval superiority to block French supply lines.

15. By 1758, most of the Ohio Valley was in British hands.
Later that year, the fortress of Louisbourg (in Nova Scotia) was taken over by the British, meaning they could attack the heart of Nouvelle- France through the St. Lawrence, as well as from the south.

16. The British Conquest of Québec
General James Wolfe sailed from England in with orders to conquer all of Nouvelle- France. With him, he brought almost 180 ships carrying soldiers, as well as surgeons, ministers, wives and children.
Wolfe first set his sights on the town of Quebec. British troops began bombarding the town on July 12, 1759, and continued to attach for nine weeks.
British troops and artillery fire destroyed homes, churches, and businesses.
Wolfe also ordered farms and livestock to be destroyed in and around the town for about 240km.

17. As this constant barrage on Quebec took place, Wolfe planned for the final attack against French General Louis- Joseph de Moncalm, the Marquis to Montcalm.

18. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The final attack came in the early hours of September 13,
Wolfe’s men were stationed below the 50m cliffs outside Quebec. In the dark, the British soldiers scaled the cliffs and positioned themselves in a field known today as the Plains of Abraham.
General Monclam had most of the French troops stated at Beauport, now a suburb of Quebec City.
When Montcalm got word that the British were outside Quebec’s walls he had to march his soldiers back into town.
They arrived exhausted for their battle with British forces.

21. At daybreak, Montcalm mobilized his 4,500 men without waiting for reinforcements from the detachment led by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville. The regular French troops, assisted by inexperienced militiamen who were deployed hastily to the battlefield, found themselves on the offensive.
The English bore fire from the French troops, allowed them to advance, and then responded with heavy fire their own, which created large gaps in the French ranks. In half an hour, the battle was over and the French army was in retreat. Both Wolfe and Montcalm died of wounds sustained in battle.

22. The French seemed to be in a stronger position
The French seemed to be in a stronger position. They were in a walled city, high above the river. The British were in ships on the river, and winter was approaching. Why did the British win the battle?
General Wolfe surprised the French, who was expecting him to attack the Beauport shore. Montcalm decided he had to dislodge the British from the Plains, as food was scarce in Quebec because of the British blockade. Rushing the French defenders back to the Plains from Beauport stretched their lines. The British were close together and disciplined. They cut the French down with rapid rifle fire.

23. The Treaty of Paris, 1763
In 1763, the Seven Year’s War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Nouvelle-France was now officially in the hands of the British, except for the two small islands off Newfoundland, St Pierre et Miquelon.
Spain gained the French colony of Louisiana and, in exchange, Britain added Florida to its colonial possessions

24. First Nations & the Treaty of Paris
For the First Nations people, the Treaty of Paris resulted in a major shift in their relationship with the European colonies.
During the century and a half that the French and British had been battling for control of North America, each First Nation made decisions to form alliances or remain neutral, depending on what it believed was in its best interest.
With the British in control, First Nations lost their strategic bargaining position.
As well, European newcomers were now encroaching farther and father into their lands.

25. The British conquest of Quebec is considered to be one of the most important battles to take place on Canadian soil. Why is this so? How might different groups of people have different views on the historical significance of the British conquest?

26. THE FALL OF NEW FRANCE
Top 5 Reasons

27. 1. GEOGRAPHY New France relied heavily on the St. Lawrence River.
Once Louisbourgh fell to the English, the colony was vulnerable to attack.

28. 2. ECONOMY Mercantilism kept the colony dependent on France.
Lack of development kept the population very small (70,000).
The 13 colonies to the South (English) had about 1.5 million people.

29. 3.AREA OF NEW FRANCE
The colony was very large in size. A small population had to defend a long frontier.

30. 4. DISSENSION
Montcalm and the Governor (Vaudreuil) did not agree on defence policy.
Corrupt officials (Intendant Bigot) took advantage of the colony during wartime. (inflated prices, spent lavishly)

31. 5. TACTICAL ERRORS
Montcalm made several blunders.