The Seven Years War

1. The Seven Years War 1756-1763

2. British VS French • Fighting took place all over the world (1755). • Fighting began in North America in the Spring of 1758 when the British captured Louisbourg and destroyed the fortress. • This opened up the St. Lawrence River to a British invasion.

3. 1759 General James Wolfe and the attack on Quebec City • A massive fleet sailed single file up the St. Lawrence River (June). This fleet stretched 150 km. • Anchored near Ile d’Orleans just down river from Quebec. • Where to attack? This was General Wolfe’s question • The French held the high ground on the top of the cliffs. • The Beauport Shore was his answer.

4. The Beauport Shore Attack • Wolf sent 4 000 soldiers to attack the Beauport Shore (gentle slopping land). • French Commander Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm figured this would be the move and had a strong defence waiting. • 440 British soldiers were killed or wounded. • Wolfe would have to think of something different .

5. The Beauport Feint • A feint is a move that deceives. • Wolfe organized some ships to make the French think he would attack Beauport Shore again. • Montcalm sent his best troops to defend the shore. • Instead Wolfe decided to attack Quebec from the west, but this was a risky move. • Troops would need to climb the Anse-au-Foulon (a steep/narrow path that the French used to get their water.

6. Gaining the High Ground • The British were to travel at night. • On September 12th the British captured a French guard post. • French speaking British soldiers pretended to carry a message from a French general downstream. • They killed the guards with knives. • Wolfe followed with 5 000 troops to the Plains of Abraham (open field next to Quebec).

7. Plains of Abraham • On the morning of September 13th, 1759. • Wolfe stood at the front of his army on the Plains of Abraham. • Quebec was defended by high stone walls. • The British cut off trade from the river. • The French would need to leave to get food. • Montcalm would have to leave Quebec with troops, but his best troops were at the Beauport Shore due to Wolfe’s feint.

8. Standing Shoulder to Shoulder • Wolfe’s soldier stood shoulder to shoulder in red uniforms and muskets loaded. • Montcalm & soldiers rushed out of Quebec and advanced on the British. • The French got stretched out and gaps formed. • The soldiers were out of breath and ineffective. • The British front line fired with deadly results. • They then knelt to reload, the second line fired, then the third. • Every 20 seconds one British line fired. • The French were cut to pieces.

9. The Aftermath • Wolfe and Montcalm were both killed. • The Marquis de Vaudreuil, the French Governor surrendered to General Jeffrey Amherst, the new British commander. • The Treaty of Paris (1763) was signed. Many locations were given back, but not New France (stayed British). • One positive for the French was the fact that the Roman Catholic religion was allowed to continue and no churches would be destroyed.