The Seven Years War

• French build Louisbourg and British build Halifax• Americans frustrated for not being able to move westinto the Ohio Valley because of the French• French and British sending troops into the region,fighting periodically breaks out• George Washington was one of the leaders of Britishtroops• British/Mohawks fought French/Native allies in thenorth• British government sends more troops to NorthAmerica in anticipation of a war, deports the Acadians

• War officially declared in 1756, both in Europe and NA• French Strategy: keep most soldiers in Europe, hope towin war by defeating British in Europe• British Strategy: determined to beat French in NorthAmerica, send many more soldiers than France to NA,decided best way to win was to capture Louisbourgand control the St. Lawrence (stop supply ships)

• British• General James Wolfe• Led British troops in Quebec• Young and ill, but a very good commander• French• Marquis de Montcalm• Led French troops in Quebec• Governor Vaudreuil• Born in New France• Thought Montcalm was too inexperienced, did not get along

• British led by Wolfe capture Louisbourg (again)• Gave British control over the Gulf of St. Lawrence,entrance to the river• French initially successful in defending Ohio Valleyforts, but the tide turned after the fall of Louisbourg• French pushed north towards Quebec• French farmers required to fight because of low Frenchtroop numbers in N. America• Not enough farmers harvesting crops; food and suppliesbegin to run low

• British ships sail down St. Lawrence River to Quebec,the centre of New France• Led by General Wolfe• British ships anchor outside of Quebec, set up campacross the river, start to bombard city with cannons• Meanwhile, British troops try to land just north ofQuebec, but stopped by French (led by Montcalm)• British need more than just cannon-fire to captureQuebec• French hope to withstand attacks until winter

• Wolfe finds a cove south of Quebec (Anse au Foulon orWolfe’s Cove)• French troops focused on river bank north of Quebec,south poorly defended• 4800 British troops land at Wolfe’s Cove at night, maketheir way by trails up the cliffs onto the Plains ofAbraham (3km from Quebec) by morning• French surprised, Montcalm worries that more Britishare coming, faces a dilemma• Most French troops 16 km away on north side of Quebec• Montcalm decides to leave fortress of Quebec ratherthan wait for reinforcements

• September 13, 1759• 4800 British soldiers vs. 4400 French soldiers/militia/First Nations allies• French used to guerrilla warfare, not open battle• Montcalm leads first charge on the British• French fire guns too soon, British more patient• Montcalm and many French soldiers hit• Brief fighting before remaining French retreat to Quebec• Only lasts ~30 minutes• Both Wolfe and Montcalm killed in battle• Casualties: 660 British, 1400 French• French surrender Quebec to British

• French retreat from Quebec to Montreal• Attempt to retake Quebec in spring of 1760, but Britishhad too many troops, plus reinforcements• September 1760: British troops march towardsMontreal, Governor Vaudreuil surrenders• British control New France• Treaty of Paris signed in 1763, New France kept byBritish