New France 1759: From the Warpath to the Plains of Abraham
Answers
The French
Part One: Impasse in the French Court
1. Who is the King of France during this time? Louis XV
2. Who was Marquis de Montcalm? Louis-Joseph
A. After 31 years in the army he was involved in 11 campaigns and was wounded on 5
occasions.
B. In the spring of 1756, he was named Camp Marshall for New France Operations.
C. In the fall of 1758, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the armies on
New France.
D. True or False Lieutenant General is a higher rank than Governor General of a colony.
E. He was entrusted with the defense of Quebec City, opposite of General Wolfe, at the
command of all military forces in Canada.
3. Complete the following pie chart by indicating the % of the natural resources of Canada that the
French and British both desired.
4.
The Declaration of War
A. What does Louis XV accuse the King of England of doing?
Engaging in exceedingly violent hostilities against his majesty’s vessels, and the
navigation, and trading activities of his subjects.
B. Why did he withhold resentment for 8 months?
He feared exposing Europe to a new war
C. What was his majesty’s will?
He ordains and enjoins all his subjects, vassals, and servants to attack the king of
England subjects and specially forbids them to have any type of intercourse, trade, or
relations with them.
D. Where and when was the Declaration of War signed?
Versailles on June 9th, 1756
Part Two: Military Recruitment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Name the French soldiers origins: Picardie, Lorraine, Paris, Berry, Languedoc, Perpignan,
Bordeaux
What conditions did a recruit must meet? Good health, strong constitution, 16 years old, 5’4,
knowledge of a trade.
Uniform: Put in order that the French soldiers got dressed:
Justaucorps = 8
Gaiters = 5
Necktie = 6
Shirt = 1
Socks = 3
Breeches = 2
Shoes = 4
Tricorn Hat = 9
Waistcoat = 7
Complete enlistment form.
Ranking of positions:
1 = King
5 = Colonel
9 = Lieutenant
2 = Secretary of State for War
6 = Lieutenant Colonel
10 = Sergeant
3 = Marshal
7 = Major
11 = Corporal
4 = Lieutenant General
8= Captain
12 = Soldier 13 = drummer
A soldier earned about 108 livres per year before deductions. After deductions, they were left
with 50 livres. This is equal to the wages of a 21st century newspaper carrier.
Part Three: Defensive Strategy
1. Where does the Marquis de Montcalm set-up headquarters? Beauport Shore
2. Name the 7 different types of defensive works:
Fortification walls, stockade, Bastion, Fire ship, trench, picket-style fence, Redoubt
3. A. Who won the attack at Montmorency Falls? The French
B. French artillery = 10
vs. English artillery = 118
4. Name the 6 pastimes of soldiers:
Drinking alcohol, cards, dice, music, smoking pipes, curling
5. True or False War battles rarely took place in the winter.
Part Four: Red Alert: The Enemy is at Hand
1. In order for a soldier to use his weapon, he needed paper cartridges, a slug and gun powder.
2. A French Regiment had a regimental flag and a battalion flag. Depicted on flags were crowns
or a fleur-de-lis.
3. French surgeons often had to resort to amputation to avoid gangrene.
? The Fall of the Colony
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Sept. 18th, 1760, Chevalier de Levis lays down his arms in Montreal by burning his flags.
It is the end of the French colony.
The Professional soldiers return to Europe where some will be decorated with the Croix de
Saint-Louis, the highest French military honour.
The British
Part One: Impasse in the British Court
1. Who is the King of England during this time? King George II
2. How many colonies does Britain have in North America? 13
3. Who stands in the king’s way of colonizing more territory? French Canadians & Amerindians
4. Who was the Major General? James Wolfe
A. In 1758, in Louisbourg, he was granted the temporary rank of Brigadier General in
America.
B. In 1759, the British Prime Minister, William Pitt, named him Commander-in-Chief of the
grand forces for the Quebec expedition.
C. His army was composed of 10 infantry battalions.
5. Numbers:
Complete the following chart:
Categories
New England
New France
Amerindians
Population in N.A.
1.5 million
60,000
80,000
Regular Soldiers
24,300
4,700
Colonial Militiamen
900
12,500
6. Prelude to War:
A. In the 1750s, the French considered Ohio a vital link between New France and Louisiana.
B. In 1754, the British sent George Washington to ask them to leave, but the French refused.
C. Washington and 400 British militiamen set up shop at Fort Necessity
D. July 1754, 600 Frenchmen and 100 Amerindians attacked
E. The French claimed victory, which set off a series of battles that led to the onset of war.
7. Battles that preceded the one in Quebec City
The French
The English
Date
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
Location
Fort Necessity
Monongahela near Fort Pitt
Fort Bull near Oswego
Fort William Henry
Fort Carrillon
Date
Location
1755 Forts: Beausejour, Gaspareau
1758 Forts: Pitt, Frontenac, Louisbourg
1759 Forts: Niagara, Carillon, Crown Point
Part Two: The Crossing or Mishaps on a Transatlantic Journey
1.
Name the origins of British soldiers: Sussex, North Gloucestershire, Derbyshire,
Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, North Lancashire, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire,
Inverness (Scotland)
2. What colour were the British uniforms? Red
3. What was different about the 78th Regiment of Foot (Fraser’s Highlanders)?
Bonnet or beret; short justaucorps; sporran (pouch), kilt, socks replaced the gaiters
4. A. On the St. Lawrence, ships fired off canons to measure the distance from the shore.
B. How many weeks was considered a short crossing? 4-6 weeks
C. How many months was considered a long crossing? 4-5 months
D. What is the less common problem during these crossings? Free of getting lost at sea
E. What other serious problem was encountered at sea? Enemies
5. Which items were part of the soldiers diet? Wine, Rum, Stew, Bread
6. What was the war arsenal? Star shot, Bayonet, Musket, Bomb, shot, chain shot, hot shot,
grape shot, gun powder, bar shot, bullets
Part Three: A Change of Strategy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Some of the routine chores of a soldier would be:
Cutting wood, keeping the fires stoked, eating meals and taking care of their muskets
How many steps are there to loading a cannon? (including after the fire) 12
The fleet includes: 30, 000 men and 189 ships; Quebec City’s population = 5000
During one night, a witness says that 200 bombs and firebombs were dropped.
On June 28th at midnight, the French set off fire ships which just ended up being a fireworks
show as no ships were damaged.
Part Four: The Final Assault
1. A. The best soldiers in Wolfe’s army are the Grenadiers.
B. Name the 4 means of intimidation: Shouts, Mitres, Colour of Uniform, Bayonet charge
2. A. Every soldier had to be able to load his musket.
B. At the time of the Seven Years’ War, it took 1 minute to load a gun 3 times.
3. The British flags always had the number of the regiment and a Union Jack.
Some had a rose, red cross, or British crown.
? The British: The Victory
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Strength in numbers did the Franco-Indian Alliances in.
Some soldiers settle in the new British colony
Many Scots from the 78th Regiment of Foot are given land along the St. Lawrence River.
The Canadian Militiamen
Part One: In New France, the Contradictions come to a Head
1. Spring 1759: War in New France has been raging for 3 years. Although the people are
hungry and distraught, balls and festivals continue in a spirit of false cheer.
2. Complete the Sovereign Council of Quebec City of 1759:
A. RIGAUD DE VAUDREUIL DE CAVAGNIAL, PIERRE DE
=
(Governor General of New France) = He represents the King and has full authority
throughout the colony. But on October 20, 1758, the Canadian militia—which up until
this day has been under his direction—is put under Montcalm’s orders. At this point, the
chain of command becomes incredibly confusing since Vaudreuil is nonetheless
responsible for the colony’s security.
B. RAMEZAY, JEAN-BAPTISTE-NICHOLAS-ROCH
=
(King’s Lieutenant) = He is responsible for defending Québec City’s upper town and is
the official signatory for the city’s surrender.
C. MONTCALM, LOUIS-JOSEPH DE
=
(Marquis de MONTCALM) = October 20, 1758, he becomes Lieutenant General of the
New France armies. From a military standpoint, his rank is significantly higher than that
of Governor General Marquis de Vaudreuil.
D. BIGOT, FRANÇOIS
=
Intendant of New France = He is responsible for the administration of finances, supplies,
equipment, lumber, shipbuilding, housing, hospitals, and the population in general. He
reports to Vaudreuil.
E. Levis, Francois-Gaston
=
(Chevalier & Brigadie) = Second in command of regular French troops. He will move up
a rank after Montcalm’s death.
3. Canadians in Despair
A. People were down to two ounces of bread per day
B. Riot broke out with 400 women participating.
C. Two soldiers were hung for stealing brandy.
4. Leaders Argue:
A. There were quarrels and misunderstandings between General Marquis de Montcalm
and Governor General Marquis de Vaudreuil.
B. In Quebec City, Intendant Bigot is described as a tyrant by the people.
Part Two: The Resistance Organizes
What made up the militiaman’s uniform?
Toque, capote, belt, breechcloth, leggings, moccasins
2. Name Quebec City’s natural defensive features:
Streets in Lower town, cote de Beauport, Montmorency Falls & River, Ile d’Orleans,
Pointe-Levis and Pointe des Peres, Cape Diamond & Cliffs
3. Name the supplies they traded:
Beaver pelts, slated lard, beef, gun powder, bullets and weapons, bartered items (mirrors)
Spirits and wine, wheat and flour, peas
4. Complete the chart of crimes and the sentences.
Crime
Sentence
Beating
Theft
Imprisonment
Vagrancy
Hanging
Theft in July 1759
Imprisonment
Insanity
Decapitation
Desertion in 1759
Firing squad, whipping, imprisonment
Desertion any other time
Selling alcohol to Amerindians
imprisonment
1.
Part Three: Caught between a Rock and a Hard Place
1.
The bombardment: 10 days = 25% of the city destroyed, 1 month = 50% homes gone,
By Sept. = 80% of the city is in rubble; 40-60 residents were injured and 20 killed.
2. Where at the convent were the sick beds for soldiers? House, servant quarters, cow barn and
loft barn and attics.
3. To counter the British cannons set up in Levis, the Canadians and French devised a simple plan:
 In charge was Jean-Daniel Dumas.
 A group of volunteers of Royal-Syntaze (35 students from Seminaire de Quebec) plus a
contingent of 1200 men (town residents, militiamen and few soldiers)
 At nightfall they make their way towards the British camps. They thought they heard the
British coming, but turns out they wounded their own scouts.
4. July 12, 1795, 80 bombs go off in the night. 30 homes and churches are destroyed.
Part Four: Nothing More to Lose
1. Name the 3 strategies of the militiamen: Raid, Ambush and Camouflage
2. The militia had 12,480 men from Quebec City, Montreal and Trois Rivieres
3. The militia men wear toques of blue, white and red to tell themselves apart.
? The Canadian: Change in King
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They lived in a state of uncertainty. Could they keep their language and customs?
Majority decided to stay and make their land flourish.
The Amerindian
Part One: Alliances in the Making
1.
Marquis de Montcalm makes an alliance with the Amerindians. He visits their longhouse and
trades wampum.
2. Rituals for alliances:
a. Greeted with 3 firings of 2 small cannons and muskets
b. 3 oxen and other items were given for a feast
c. They sang war songs and smoked a peace pipe
d. Traded wampum and gave a list of warriors.
3. Why did the Amerindians side with the French instead of the English?
The land that the French left was still good for hunting.
The English drove the game away.
4.
Division of Native Peoples in America: # of Native Allies
8
English (red)
17
French (blue)
5
Neutral (green)
5. State the tribes that were involved in the conflict:
Mi’kmaqs, Amalecites, Abenakis
Ottawa
Potawatomi and the fox
Abenaki
Part Two: The Warpath
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Preparation: Talk a long time to make a decision, end their ceremonies by smoking a peace
pipe, paint their bodies red and black, dance war dances, have animal sacrifices. Ill omen or
premonitory dreams may make them change their minds at the last minute.
Battle tactics = knowing the difference of European tracks, sends scouts ahead, remain
hidden until they know victory is possible, take them by surprise, have a meeting place for
after the battle.
Amerindians Weapons were: axes, tomahawks & trade axes, knives, gun stocks and muskets
They went to battle: to avenge death, make territorial claims or maintain alliances
The young women accuse the older women of pushing the men to war for revenge.
Part Three: Effective Harassment
1. True or False
The Amerindians were punished for stealing food.
2. The Amerindians’ methods are used to: Take POWs, steal military supplies, surprise attacks
and take English scalps.
3. July 31st: Wolfe’s offensive at Beauport
 11am, Wolfe’s men land at Montmorency Falls. 2000 men in 200 rowboats
 Rowboats are protected by the Centurion
 Montcalm spots Wolfe’s Grenadiers
 Canadian militiamen and French soldiers attack
 A storm breaks causing the British to turn back, but the Amerindians attack and many
British are scalped
 Montcalm congratulates Levis and Duprat
 The British burn their own ships to keep them from falling into enemies hands
 200 British deaths and 70 French Deaths
Part Four: From Ambush to Skirmish
1.
Describe the terrifying warriors:
Pricking of the skin (tattoos), paint their skin – red, black, blue and green- with bear
grease, shaven heads with feathers, no body hair, ears hang low and are tied back, wear
nose rings and bracelets on their arms
2. Tactics: wait patiently until the chief yells out a war cry; they ambush and then scalp the
enemy. When he returns to the village he yells out a loud cry = to the number of scalps he has.
? The Amerindian: Always at War
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Certain tribes refuse to admit to defeat.
Under the directives of the Ottawa chief Pontiac, the Miami, Huron, Potawatomi, and Shawnee
take up arms against the British.
The rebellion wages on for months until Pontiac are weakened by defeat and disease.
They sign a peace treaty in 1766.
Plains of Abraham
1. General James Wolfe was killed on Sept. 13th. His body was returned to England in a rum
barrel. He was named a national hero.
2. Lieutenant General le marquis de Montcalm died on Sept. 14th. His body was buried in a hole
made by a cannon at Ursuline Convent.
3. Chart
Deaths
Wounded
343
200
French and Canadians
58
603
British
Unknown
Unknown
Amerindians
350
French Prisoners to England