The Conquest of New France
Causes of the Conquest
The Rivals: Britain and France
In the 1700’s, Britain and France were the major powers in Europe
The French (Fre) wanted control over Europe The English (Eng) wanted a world empire They both wanted power, so there was conflict!
First Intercolonial War 1689-97
French raided villages in Thirteen Colonies (1690)
English forts were captured in Acadia and Newfoundland (Nfld.) 1694-97
Treaty of Rijswijk – no territorial change and the French gave back the forts to the English
Second Intercolonial War 1702-13
French raided the Thirteen Colonies, captured forts in Nfld. and Hudson Bay
English captured Port-Royal (Nova Scotia) Treaty of Utrecht – the Fre. ceded Acadia,
Nfld., and Hudson Bay Both sides constructed forts:
– France – Louisbourg (to protect St.Lawrence)– England – Fort William Henry
The French fort at Louisbourg
Third Intercolonial War 1744-48
Colonists from the Thirteen Colonies captured Fort Louisbourg (1745)
Treaty of Aie-la-Chapelle – Louisbourg returned to the French
Renewed conflict (1748-55)
British deport 6, 000 Acadiens
Seven Years War 1756-63
French victorious at first British regained Fort Duquesne, victory at
Oswego, Frontenac, Louisbourg (1758) Seige of Quebec in 1759… Wolfe (English) vs. Montcalm (French) at the
Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
James Wolfe Marquis de Montcalm
Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759)
Wolfe wanted to draw Montcalm into a fight before winter – he decided to attack at Quebec City
Wolfe led elite troops up the cliffs outside Quebec to the Plains of Abraham
Instead of waiting inside the fort for Wolfe, Montcalm led his men out on the plains to meet Wolfe
Montcalm’s men were tired, the Fre. were defeated, they lost Quebec
Wolfe died during the battle, and Montcalm died from a wound the next day
Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759)
The End of New France…
Montcalm and the French defeated at Quebec (1759)
Montreal surrenders and succumbs to British rule (1760)
War is over in N.A. Treaty of Paris (1763) – France gives up all territory
in N.A except St. Pierre and Miquelon. Britain controlled all territory east of the Mississippi River
The Differences Between France and the Thirteen Colonies
The population of New France grew slowly – there were 70,000 people in 1760
The population was much higher in the Thirteen Colonies, the population was 1, 500, 000.
The economy of New France was based on the fur trade – dependent on France
The economy of the Thirteen Colonies was more diverse – independent and prosperous
Differences continued . . .
New France had a Royal Government – power was centralized in France
In the Thirteen Colonies, there was a different administration for each colony (this made it difficult to make unanimous decisions
However, people had a say in the government of the Thirteen Colonies
The Conquest in New France
Fighting in North America
The Introduction
British settlers wanted the Ohio Valley to themselves The Fre. wanted to keep it because it was a good
area for furs The two sides wanted the same thing, so a conflict
was inevitable For a while, the Fre. and their Native allies had kept
the settlers out War broke out in July 1754 – The Seven Years War
The Rising Action
The two empires, France and Britain were at war in Europe
When they were at war, most of the colonies were at war
In Europe, Britain made an alliance with Prussia – this helped them in Europe, so they could concentrate on fighting in the colonies
The British Prime Minister wanted New France because he thought it could give Britain commercial supremacy
British Prime Minister – on the leftFrench King (Louis XV) – on the right
Rising Action--continued
The administration in the American colonies decided to unite against the Fre. in North America
The British lost some battles at the beginning of the war
The Fre. didn’t have a good navy, they had fewer soldiers and the Fre. commander’s (General Montcalm) defensive strategy was ineffective
General Wolfe (British commander), to get Montcalm to leave his defensive positions, adopted a “scorched earth” policy – burn everything: towns, villages, etc. – the Fre. wouldn’t leave
Montcalm & Wolfe
The Falling Action
In the spring of 1760, the Fre. Won a battle at Sainte-Foy, but it didn’t have a huge impact
The British fleet arrived in New France, the Fre. retreated to Mtl.
The British (General Murray, Brigadier Haviland, General Amherst) surrounded Mtl.
The French surrendered to avoid more bloodshed