1. The American Revolution & British North America Overview

2. During the 18th Century, North America was largely under the control of the British. The 13 Colonies, New France (Quebec), Acadia, Newfoundland, and Rupert’s Land.

3. After the 7 Years’ War, the French Canadien people of Quebec were allowed to retain their French language, laws, and culture. The Native peoples resisted the British, preferring the previous French rulers.

4. After defeating a Native uprising led by an Ottawa Chief, Pontiac, the British passes a Royal Proclamation and the Quebec Act. These laws acommodated the French and pushed the Americans towards revolution.

5. In 1776, the 13 Colonies declared their independence from Britain and the American Revolution began. The American victory in 1783 meant that Britain would have to pay closer attention to its remaining property in North America.

6. In 1791, after the arrival of thousands of Loyalists from the USA, the Quebec colony was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. Each colony was given its own colonial government.

7. The American Revolution

8. The American colonists in the 13 Colonies grew increasingly frustrated with a British government that would arbitrarily impose taxes and make deals with the Natives or the French without consulting them.

9. The Quebec Act, Stamp Act, Boston massacre, and Boston Tea Party were all events that led to the American Revolution.

10. Although the American lost many battles in the beginning, military help from France allowed them to eventually defeat the powerful British army.

11. The result was a new nation made up of 13 different colonies or “states” that joined together to form the United States of America.

12. British North America

13. During the American Revolution, not all of the colonists were “Patriots”. Some remained loyal to Britain. After the war, these “Loyalists” were driven from their homes and moved to the British colonies to the north.

14. The influx of thousands of English-speaking refugees into Quebec forced the British to divide the colony into Upper and Lower Canada in Upper Canada was English while Lower Canada remained predominantly French Canadien.

15. As more and more immigrants arrived in Upper Canada, Britain began to invest heavily in its new country. Upper Canada’s first governor, John Simcoe, did much to improve the roads, education, and settlements.

16. The War of 1812

17. By the end of the 1700s, BNA was in a delicate situation
By the end of the 1700s, BNA was in a delicate situation. With a total population of about ½ million, it was a prime target for the 8 million Yankees down south.

18. Many “War Hawks” in America wanted more war with Britain in order to fulfill their idea of “Manifest Destiny” or the American right to control all of North America.

19. The BNA forces were smaller but had better organization and better leadership. They were able to push back the Yanks during the first year of the war.

20. The British and the Americans each won and lost many battles and each burned each other’s capitals (York and Washington D.C)

21. In the end, the British were able to send more troops to Canada and the war ended in a draw. No territories were captured, no boundaries were changed, however Canadians did develop a strong sense of Nationhood.