The Seven Years’ War
1750
• France and England are the two greatest
powers in the world
• France has a great army
• England has a great navy
• They are in direct competition in the
Americas
• Something has got to give
1750
1750 Cont…
• Frontiers in North America were in dispute
• Both sides laid claim to NS, Acadia and the
Grand Banks
• The area in dispute went south into modernday states of Pennsylvania and Louisiana
• Peace talks in Europe amounted to nothing
1752-1753
• French attack Iroquois in the Ohio Valley
who trade with the British
• They set up garrisons and forts in the region
• In October 1753, Major George Washington
delivers orders to the French to leave
• These orders are rejected
1754- This Means War!
• The British begin attacking back
• Battles ensue over the next few years
• In 1755, Lt. Colonel Robert Monckton takes
Fort Beausejour (near NS and Acadia)
• This cut Louisbourg off from land-based
reinforcements
• It’s the beginning of the end for the French
in NS
The Great Upheaval
• Took place from 1755-1763
• After taking Fort Beausejour, the English do
not trust the Acadians
• Acadians speak French, but claim they are a
separate nation from France and have no
alliance with the French
• The English try to get them to swear an oath
of loyalty to England
Upheaval Cont…
• Acadians want to remain neutral and do not
wish to swear an oath to anyone
• The English then begin the expulsion
• Acadians are forcibly removed from their
homes
• Families are split up and relocated all across the
continent
• This is one of the biggest disgraces of our
history
1756- Europe
• 1756- War breaks out (Seven Years’ War)
• England and Prussia against France,
Austria, Russia, and others
• This is considered the first “global war”
• France concentrates most of its troops to
Europe leaving fewer troops in the
Americas
• Prussia has a great army, so England is free
to send more troops to colonies
1758- Louisbourg
• This is the last great French fort East of
Quebec. It could:
– Help re-supply Quebec forts
– Launch attacks upon the British on the St.
Lawrence
– Nearest outpost to France
• It had to go if Britain wanted to win
Louisbourg Cont…
• May 1758- British Naval forces leave
Halifax for the attack
• There are nearly 200 ships and 14,000 men
• By June 25th the entire French Navy at
Louisbourg is destroyed
• One month later (26-July) Louisbourg fell to
the British
• This ended French power in Atlantic Canada
The Plains of Abraham
• With Louisbourg gone the French power
resided in Quebec
• On Sept. 13, 1759 the British attack
• Brits are led by Major-General James Wolfe
• French led by Lt. General the Marquis de
Montcalm
Plains cont…
• There are cliffs to one side of the plains
which were unfortified
• Montcalm did not think anyone could climb
them…but Wolfe’s men did
• Surprised, Montcalm attacked quickly
• Each side had approx. 4500 men
Plains Cont…
• The English troops were regulars, but the
French were largely militia
• The fight was short, but both Wolfe and
Montcalm were mortally wounded
• Wolfe was shot in the chest and stomach
• As he was lying on the field he watched the
French retreating. He gave orders to his men
to give chase, then died
• Montcalm died the next morning of a
stomach wound
Signal Hill- 1762
• By now the French and English have been
fighting for about 8 years
• Earlier in the year the French took St.
John’s
• The British want it back to keep control of
the fisheries
• Sept. 15 at dawn, the British launch a
surprise attack on Signal Hill
Signal Hill Cont…
• The surprise worked and the French were
defeated easily
• With this position fortified St. John’s was
ceded by the French 3 days later
• This was the final battle of the Seven Year’s
War in the Americas
Result- Treaty of Paris
• The Treaty of Paris was signed Feb. 10, 1763
• England gained all the French territory in
Canada and east of the Mississippi
• French settlements in Quebec were given
rights to remain as a distinct society
• This formed the basis for Quebec’s special
position today