Seven Years War & The Battle of the Plains of Abraham

Canadian History 11

The War of Austrian Succession ended with the Peace of Aix-La-Chapelle.

An uneasy peace held for almost eight years.

Austria and France had been ancient enemies—now they were on the same

side!

They wanted to keep Prussia from expanding in the East.

In the new world, the French were successful in seeking the alliance of the Indian leaders—hence, this war is called the French Indian War in North America.

In 1758, Louisburg, the great fort that had been captured and returned by the English during the War of Austrian Succession, was captured once

again.

Background

• Seven Year’s War – both Europe and North America (1756-1763)

• In Canada, early French success, more manpower and forts

• Later (1758-1759), British success – more money, men are allotted, power of Royal Navy

• 1759 – New France faced odds of nearly 3 to 1in terms of ships, – 4 to 1 in terms of regular soldiers.– 10 to 1 in money

Main Players

• James Wolfe – commander of British invasion fleet sent to take Quebec

• Invasion force = 13,500 men, 4000 in strike force (mostly regular soldiers)

Main Players

• France – Marquis de Montcalm

• Approximately 4500 men (mostly militiamen)

Problems with French Defense• Walls facing the Plains of Abraham had no gun

reinforcements• Under cover of fire, Royal Navy could transport its ships up

the river without counterattack• French failed to establish a password for a French convoy

expected to bring supplies on the night of September 12• The British attack was a complete surprise – French

sentries on the shore thought that the boats gliding past them were part of the French convoy.

The Plains of Abraham• Wolfe deployed 4500 troops on the Plains of

Abraham, the grassy field near the unarmed western walls of the fort

• Montcalm makes a fatal error- Instead of waiting for Colonel de Bougainville to arrive with 3000 regulars stationed at Cap Rouge, 15 km upstream, he impulsively attacks

The Battle Unfolds

• British strategies – Three quarters of men deployed in one line in a concentration of firepower

• When the French army was only 40m away, the command to fire was given and the French were devastated, their lines in chaos

• Retreated up the St. Lawrence River• Battle lasted less than 30 minutes• The two forces were numerically equal, however, the

– British force was well trained– French, poorly trained militiamen

Wolfe Dies on the Battle Field

In 1759, French Canada (Quebec) falls to the English in the great battle called the

Plains of Abraham.

British Gains in North America