CHAPTER 5
WAR AND PEACE
INTRODUCTION
Something to think about…
Chapter Inquiry: How did military events and their consequences contribute to the
foundations of Canada?
KEY CONCEPT: Conquest and Consequences
Canadians are proud of their ability to find peaceful solutions to problems. It is
part of who we are: we work together to settle disputes without using violence.
Occasionally, though, talking and negotiating fail. Sometimes, people get into
fights.
Countries that cannot agree sometimes get into fights too – they go to war. War
involves the use of organized force on a large scale to attain a goal.
Superpowers
Superpower refers to a country that is more powerful than almost all other
countries. Superpowers dominate world affairs. Today, for example, the United
States is the world’s largest superpower.
In the 1700s, France and England were rival superpowers. Both countries had
huge, well-equipped armies and strong navies. Both were wealthy. Both
controlled vast empires. These empires included colonies in North America.
The French and English at War
France and England were often in conflict with one another. This happened
because they both wanted the same thing. They wanted more territories, including
those in North America. They wanted the resources in these territories.
They were rivals for power in Europe and on the high seas. Between 1690 and
1763, France and England were almost always at war with each other.
Perspectives on War
Think about the war through the eyes of those affected by it. Summarize the following
perspectives on page 99.
Halifax merchant:
Acadian farmer:
Canadien habitant:
Mi’kmaq women:
Mohawk trapper:
SECTION 1 – Background to War (Pages 101-105)
NOTES:
When the Seven Years’ War broke out in 1756, it was close to being a world war.
As well as in Europe, France and England fought in India, the Caribbean, and
Africa. In all these places, the two countries had colonies – and resources – they
were determined to protect or expand.
The French Perspective
By 1750, the French were very well established in North America. The area
France claimed was huge. French colonists lived on Ile Saint-Jean (Prince Edward
Island), Cape Breton, and in Louisiana in the south. Acadia belonged to the
British, but it was populated by French-speaking people
The heart of New France was the colony along the St. Lawrence River. About
50 000 French colonists lived there. By 1750, most of the population had been
born in New France. These colonies were no longer Europeans. They had begun
to see themselves as a new people – the Canadiens
New France felt secure – perhaps too secure. It felt protected by the home
country, which supplied soldiers, and by the mighty fortresses at Quebec and
Louisbourg. Surely the English armies could never get past these barriers!
The English Perspective
English colonists from the Thirteen Colonies far outnumbered the French
colonists of New France. They wanted to move into the interior of North America.
They needed more farmland for their growing population. They also wanted to
trade with the First Nations in the interior.
Yet they could not cross the Allegheny Mountains to settle in the Ohio River
Valley. France had claimed the area for itself and had built forts to protect it. The
Thirteen Colonies felt blocked on the north and west.
In the Atlantic region, control of the fisheries was at stake. The Atlantic fisheries
produced tonnes of cod and other fish for dinner tables back in Europe. The
English wanted to control this profitable resource. England also wanted to gain
control of the major gateway to the continent: the St. Lawrence River.
The English felt hemmed in. Yet they had the most powerful navy in the world.
The temptation to use it against the French must have been great.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Copy out the chart on page 102 below:
British Strengths French Strengths
British Weaknesses French Weaknesses
War Rumblings in the West
The war for North America began in the Ohio River Valley. In 1754, a British
force led by General George Washington marched into the valley. In time,
Washington would become the first president of the United States. On this
occasion, however, he suffered defeat. The next year, the British tried again with a
much bigger force. The result was the same. The French had successfully adopted
the battle tactics of their First Nations allies.
For the moment, New France was secure. Even so, the British were determined to
drive the French out of North America. The British Prime Minister, William Pitt,
promised to send more soldiers, more ships, and more money.
QUESTIONS:
1. Define the following terms:
a) Exploration:
to discover the unknown, curiosity
b) Mercantilism:
an economic system that allowed an imperial country to become rich by selling the
resources taken from its colonies
England and France colonized lands to gain access to valuable resources. This was the
driving force behind exploration.
2. Compare the French and English Perspective by using the chart below. (use pages 101-
102)
The French Perspective The English Perspective
- They began to see themselves as no
longer European rather a new people – the
Canadiens
- they felt secure – too secure. It felt
protected by the home country
- wanted to move into the interior of North
America
- felt blocked from the interior because of
the land claimed by the French
- wanted to control the Atlantic fisheries
- wanted to control the St. Lawrence River
- felt hemmed in but had the most powerful
navy in the world therefore temptation to
use it against French grew
3. Look at figure 5.1 on page 101 and answer the following questions:
a) Why do you think the French and English both felt hemmed in?
each side was bordered by disputed territory and/or water. The English territory was
particularly limited
b) How would the Haudenosaunee feel about the tensions between the French and
English?
The Haudenosaunee were surrounded by the French on one side and the English on the
other. Tensions between the two countries literally had the Haudenosaunee caught in the
middle
4. After reviewing the chart of strengths and weaknesses on page 102, which side do you
think had the strongest position?
5. Read the Case Study on page 103.
a) List reasons why Quebec’s location helped protect it.
It was high above the river and cliff.
b) Who or what do you think the fortress was built to protect?
The fortress was built to protect the governor and the wealthy colonists, all of whom lived
within its walls.
c) Who or what would not be protected by this fortress?
The port, warehouses, and the labourers and tradespeople who worked and lived in the
Lower Town were outside the fortress’s walls, and thus were offered less protection
d) Look at figure 5.2 on page 103. Think about ways that paintings and drawings could
be used as sources of information at that time.
Can offer information about styles of clothing, architecture, transportation, and other
material goods
6. After reading War Rumblings in the West, why would the Ohio Valley be a primary
target for the British?
Cutting off the fur trade and giving the British control of the South
7. Look at figure 5.5 on page 104, why do you think it was so important to the French to
defend Louisbourg?
The colony represented France’s strength in North America, it offered a line of defence
for Quebec, it closed off the St. Lawrence to the English, it was a major port, and so on.
Think it Through
What do you think was the most important key factor leading to the Seven Years’ War?
Was the amount of land France controlled in North America. The British could not
expand and feared losing the valuable resources of North America if it did not force
France out.
Focus: Why were France and England drawn into conflict in North America?
SECTION 2 – Prelude to War: Acadia (Pages 106-109)
NOTES:
The Acadians were the descendants of the French colonists who had first farmed
the shores of the Bay of Fundy in the 1600s. Acadia had changed hands many
times in the seventeenth century. First the English captured it. Then the French
did. Back and forth it went.
By 1710, most of Acadia was firmly under British control. Acadians had
developed a unique identity because they had been cut off from the rest of New
France for so long. Britain changed the colony’s name to Nova Scotia. It allowed
the Acadians to live their lives in peace. It seemed that the Acadians’ troubles
were over. Although you will see, the Acadians became victims of a war they did
not want.
The Acadian Way of Life
By 1750, more than 10 000 Acadians lived on small farms and in villages nestled
along the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Many had intermarried with their Mi’kmaq
trading partners. They were mainly French-speaking Catholics. Over the years,
they created their own way of life. It was based on fishing and their unique
methods of farming.
Caught in the Middle
Britain had always wanted to populate Nova Scotia with people who spoke
English. As tensions between England and France grew, the governor of Nova
Scotia, Charles Lawrence, began to wonder if the Acadians might side with the
French. The Mi’kmaq and Maliseet had trade and family ties with the Acadians.
Over the years, they had captured hundreds of English ships. The Acadians had
always refused to swear loyalty to the British Crown.
In 1755, Lawrence gave the Acadians an ultimatum (a threat of serious penalties):
swear your loyalty or lose your land. The Acadians did not want to fight. They
wanted to remain neutral. They promised not to take up arms against the English,
but they refused to take the oath. That set the stage for le Grand Derangement –
the Great Upheaval.
QUESTIONS:
1. Look at figure 5.7 on page 106, why did both Britain and France want to control the
colony?
It was rich in fish and fur and it had an abundance of good farmland. It provided a
strategic military location. In 1749, the British built the fortress of Halifax with five
stockades – strong, upright defense posts – for protection. Halifax’s location on the
Atlantic Ocean provided Acadia with a strong naval and military defense
2. Read Case Study on page 107-108.
a) Compare the Acadian and British perspective below:
Acadian perspective British perspective
- Acadians were deported by ship to the
NewEngland colonies
- many Acadians didn’t survive the
deportation, though. They died of disease,
drowning, or starvation.
- Felt that the British newcomers in Nova
Scotia would not be safe with the Acadians
living among them.
b) What does it mean to swear allegiance to the king?
It means to promise service and loyalty to the king, and to not take up arms against the
king’s army
c) Why did the Acadians not want to pledge their allegiance?
The Acadians wished to remain neutral; they did not want to fight
d) Why did the British want to expel the Acadians?
The British did not trust that the Acadians would remain neutral and worried they would
take up arms against them; Britain wanted to populate Nova Scotia with Anglophones
e) What else might the British and the Acadians have done to settle their differences?
Make a peace treaty or agreement, be more accepting of one another
3. Read Identity on page 109.
a) What factors do you think boost a people’s sense of cultural identity? What could you
do to help the Acadians protect their identity?
They could learn more about Acadians, listen to Acadian music, read translations of
Acadian novels, etc., to try to understand and value Acadian culture
b) Look at figure 5.11 on page 109. How has she helped keep the Acadian identity
vibrant and alive?
Antonine Maillet has helped keep the Acadian culture alive by capturing it in interesting
stories with engaging characters
Focus: Why did the English expel the Acadians from their land in Nova Scotia?
SECTION 3 – The Struggle for Canada (Pages 110-113)
NOTES:
For a few years, the French, Canadian Mohawks, Ojibwa, and other First Nations
successfully fought the English. They kept the enemy at bay in the Ohio River
Valley and the Great Lakes region. There was only one way to win New France.
England would have to gain control of France’s two centres of power in North
America: Louisbourg and Quebec.
Capturing Louisbourg
Louisbourg had to be captured first. It guarded the St. Lawrence River, which led
to the Quebec colony
In the spring of 1758, the British collected a huge force of warships and troops at
Halifax. Arriving off Louisbourg that June, the British fleet blockaded the
harbour. The British soldiers scrambled onshore with their cannons. They cut off
the town from the landward side and settled in for a long siege (a blockade of a
city).
Inside the fortress, the people were cut off from supplies and reinforcements.
Their food supplies ran low. They watched as the British sank their ships, one by
one. The people weakened as the British launched a steady rain of cannonballs
onto the fort. After seven weeks of bombardment, the French at Louisbourg
surrendered.
Onward to Canada
With the route to Canada now open, the British lost little time. The next spring, in
1759, Major-General James Wolfe led a fleet up the St. Lawrence River. He had
about 200 ships carrying 9000 soldiers and 18 000 sailors. The line of ships
stretched for 150 kilometres
The battle for Quebec unfolded over three months. Victory for the British was
never a sure thing. The French commander was the Marquis de Montcalm. He had
16 000 troops and a stone fortress that would not be captured easily. If Montcalm
could hold out until winter, Wolfe and his ships would have to retreat before the
river froze.
Points of View before the Battle
Wolfe and Montcalm faced different challenges. Wolfe was on the attack. He and
his troops faced a well-defended fortress perched atop a high cliff. It appeared
impossible to climb. Unlike Louisbourg, Quebec could not be surrounded from
the countryside behind the fort. Therefore, Wolfe would not cut off supplies. Time
was short. There would be only a few weeks until the cold weather set in. Wolfe’s
only hope was to draw the enemy out onto the open battlefield.
Montcalm, on the other hand, was on the defence. He and his French forces faced
a huge fleet of British ships and a well-trained army. He believed they were safe
inside the stone fortress. They could fire their cannons at will on the enemy
below. They believed help was on the way. The best thing to do was to wait.
A Standoff
The French and the British bombarded each other for almost nine weeks. The
fortress of Quebec was in ruins, but it still had not been captured. Despite major
damage to the city, Montcalm would not release his army to fight.
Wolfe unleashed a savage attack on the countryside. Troops destroyed villages
and set fire to hundreds of farmhouses and barns. Frightened habitant families
fled to the protection of the walled fortress. It was a terrifying tactic, but it did no
good. The French forces would not leave the fortress.
Winter was setting in. It was time for the British to leave. For Wolfe, this was the
time for one last gamble.
The Battle on the Plains of Abraham
Wolfe came up with a plan. On the high cliff top behind the fortress was a
farmer’s field known as the Plains of Abraham. If British soldiers could secretly
make their way there, they could attack the French where their defences were
weak
Just before midnight on 12 September 1759, the first British soldier stepped
ashore. Throughout the night, they crept up a steep path leading to the field. In a
few hours, the British army was in place on the Plains of Abraham. When dawn
broke, the French were astonished to see thousands of red-coated soldiers in battle
position just outside the city gates.
At the fort, Montcalm had 6000 soldiers, including 300 upper Great Lakes Odawa
allies. About 4400 professional British soldiers waited on the Plains.
Reinforcements had not arrived.
Montcalm emerged from the city leading 4000 troops. The British launched a
massive volley of musket fire. The French fired back. A fierce battle raged, and
both Wolfe and Montcalm were killed. After 15 minutes of slaughter, the French
turned and fled. In all, 1300 soldiers died on the Plains of Abraham, It was the
bloodiest battle ever fought on Canadian soil.
Following the battle, the English troops entered the city. French colonists and
British soldiers alike scrambled to find food during the winter. More British
soldiers died from disease than had died in the battle.
The remaining French soldiers fell back to Montreal. Here they held out for a few
months. Many of their First Nations allies were no longer willing to fight. On 8
September 1760, the French surrendered at Montreal. New France passed into
British hands.
The Legacy of the Colony
With their First Nations friends and allies, the Canadiens accomplished a great
deal during the over 150 years that they controlled the St. Lawrence River Valley.
They were the first newcomers in the territory that would one day be Canada.
French traders pioneered the fur trade. They travelled all the way to the Western
Plains. In spite of the harsh climate, the Canadiens created successful farms. They
cleared the land, dug wells, and built roads. They started up shops and businesses.
Through the Catholic Church, they began a tradition of public responsibility for
education, health, and the disadvantaged. These are roots of values central to the
contemporary Canadian identity.
The Canadiens proved that a colony could survive in this difficult land. By the
time the English arrived in the St. Lawrence, the Canadiens had already laid the
foundations of a successful country.
QUESTIONS:
1. The British controlled the St. Lawrence River after the fall of Louisbourg. Why might
this help the British gain control of New France?
It made it impossible for the French to send reinforcements to Quebec. Therefore, the
fortress was vulnerable to British attack
2. Look at figure 5.12 on page 110. In what ways might the soldier’s bias have affected
his interpretation of the scene?
The painting is from the perspective of the British side and shows no French soldiers. The
painter’s bias is apparent in the sense of determination and excitement in the scene, as
the British prepare for their siege on Louisbourg.
3. After reading Onward to Canada and Points of View on pages 110-111. Why, even as
Wolfe’s fleet moved up the St. Lawrence, Montcalm was still not afraid of the British
attack.
He had 16000 troop and a stone fortress on a high cliff. The river would soon freeze,
forcing Wolfe to retreat. Help would arrive from France
4. Look at figure 5.14 on page 112. What do you think? Did Montcalm make the best
decision he could?
5. Look at figure 5.15 on page 113. Why would we want to preserve a battle site?
Preserving battlegrounds saves major parts of our history; it helps us remember turning
points; it shows respect for the soldiers and the sacrifices they made, and so on
Think it Through
1. Review the section titled “The Struggle for Canada.” Make a list of the key events that
took place, with their locations and dates.
- the deportation of the Acadians
- the invasion of the Ohio Valley
- the battle of Louisbourg
- the Battle on the Plains of Abraham
2. How did the citizens of New France lay the foundations of the Canada you know
today?
The citizens of New France laid the foundations of Canada by establishing successful
farms, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses. They also had good relations with the
First Nations and explored far to the west of the St. Lawrence River Valley. Their
language formed a tradition that is part of Canada’s bilingual heritage today.
Focus: How was the Battle on the Plains of Abraham a turning point in Canadian
history?
SECTION 4 – The First Nations and the War (Pages 114-115)
NOTES:
The First Nations were deeply involved in the wars between the French and the
English. Most First Nations supported the French, with whom they had a long
history of trading. Some Haudenosaunee sided with the English
The First Nations fought independently against the enemy. They also fought and
died alongside their allies on the battlefield.
The First Nations did not stop fighting after the French surrendered. The First
Nations and the English first had to negotiate neutrality. Only then could the
English declare victory.
Reasons for Anxiety
Following the war, France and England made peace. They signed a treaty in 1763.
It gave England possession of most of North America. The treaty disappointed the
First Nations. The future of their land was at stake, yet no one had invited them to
take part in the peace process. The French governor made the English promise not
to take revenge against the First Nations peoples who had sided with the French.
British traders took over the French fur trade. They did not follow the same
trading practices as the French. They were not as generous in giving gifts such as
tobacco, ammunition, and wampum. The British did not understand that
exchanging gifts was how First Nations people built trust.
The First Nations were worried about the newcomers. English farmers began to
move into the Ohio River Valley. Gradually, the First Nations were losing their
lands. They began to consider war.
Pontiac’s War against the British
The person who inspired a war against the English was a man named Pontiac.
This leader of the Odawa convinced several First Nations to join together to drive
the British out of the Ohio river Valley. In May 1763, Pontiac and the Odawa laid
siege to the British fort at Detroit. Around the same time, Pontiac’s allies captured
forts along the trading frontier south and west of Lake Erie. They were
remarkably successful, capturing seven of ten English forts.
Pontiac hoped that the French would come to help him. After all, he and his allies
had aided the French in their war with the English. The French, however, had
already surrendered at Montreal. The British sent in troops to fight the First
Nations. The alliance that Pontiac had formed fell apart.
QUESTIONS:
1. Read Pontiac’s War against the British on page 115.
a) Record the events that comprised Pontiac’s War.
Pontiac inspired the war and convinced several First Nations to join in driving the
British out of the Ohio Valley. In 1763, Pontiac and the Odawa laid siege to Detroit.
Pontiac’s allies captured trading forts south and west of Lake Erie. They captured 7 of 10
forts.
b) Should the French have helped Pontiac and his allies? Why or why not?
Think it Through
1. The First Nations felt betrayed after the Seven Years’ War.
a) Were they betrayed? Explain.
b) How did the English and French view the situation? Explain.
2. As Britain expanded its control in North America, the First Nations were concerned
that their interests would not be respected. Why did First Nations have good reason to be
concerned about their future?
The First Nations were concerned about British control of North America for a number of
reasons. The British did not interact with the First Nations as the French had; e.g., they
did not acknowledge the trading practices of the First Nations, and most did not attempt
to learn about First Nations’ traditional ways. British colonists began to occupy First
Nations’ lands in greater numbers than French colonists had
Focus: What role did the First Nations play in the war between France and England?
SECTION 5 – After the War (Pages 116-121)
NOTES: New Challenges
Each group had its own concerns as it looked to the future. The First Nations were
tired of war. They just wanted a return to normal life, but they feared that land-
hungry newcomers would flood into their territories.
The Canadiens feared the worst. Those who stayed in Canada faced the challenge
of rebuilding the colony. They wondered if they would be allowed to speak
French and worship in the Catholic faith. After all, the British had forced the
Acadians to abandon their homes.
The new British rulers faced challenges, too. They now had a colony of 70 000
people who spoke a different language and practiced a different religion. The
Canadiens had a different form of government, followed different laws, and had
different ways of doing things. The English were worried about the First Nations,
too. Many of them had been allies of the French during the war.
The Treaty of Paris, 1763
The surrender of Montreal in 1760 ended the fighting over New France. The
conflict between England and France was fought elsewhere, too. It continued for
three more years in Europe and other parts of the world
Finally, in 1763, France and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the conflict.
Under the treaty, France gave up any claim to Quebec or any other part of North
America. In return, France received Guadeloupe, a sugar-producing island in the
Caribbean. The only parts of New France still in the hands of the French were the
tiny islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon near the coast of Newfoundland.
Choices for the Future
The British had gained control over what had been New France. Now they had to
decide how to govern the colony. What options did they have?
Summarize the following headings on page 117.
o Eviction:
o Assimilation:
o Accommodation:
At the same time, the British had to decide two more things. Should they make
land agreements with First Nations people? And how could they reward the
American colonists of New England? Many of these colonists had fought for
Britain in the war. New England farmers wanted land in the Ohio River Valley.
British traders hoped to be able to set up businesses in Canada.
Copy the chart on page 117 below
Region of New France Before 1763 After 1763
Quebec
Nova Scotia (or Acadia)
Cape Breton
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland
The Royal Proclamation of 1763
The British did not want to evict the Canadiens from their homes. However, they
did want to assimilate them. This means the Canadiens would become more like
the British and would lose their language and culture.
In October 1763, King George III of England signed the Royal Proclamation of
1763, which laid out the British government’s plans for the colony. To attract
Anglophones to Quebec, the Proclamation brought in British institutions and
laws. It also prevented settlements west of the Appalachians. This forced
American colonists who wanted land to move to Quebec
Copy the Terms of the Royal Proclamation on page 118 below
Terms of the Royal Proclamation:
Recognition for First Nations
Pontiac’s acts of war were not in vain. They made the British realize that they had
to pay attention to the demands of the First Nations. In the Royal Proclamation of
1763, Britain set aside a huge area of land for the First Nations. It included all
lands west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River.
Europeans could not live there. It seemed that some First Nations had achieved
what they wanted – to continue their way of life without interference.
The Quebec Act of 1774
The attempt to turn Quebec into a colony with a British identity failed. The
Canadiens had developed such a strong sense of identity that they could not be
“made” British. They were determined to survive as a people. Only a few hundred
English-speaking newcomers were attracted to Quebec.
Meanwhile, in the Thirteen Colonies, the colonists were becoming restless under
British rule. The British did not want trouble in Quebec as well. They needed to
keep the colony loyal. They decided the best way to do that was to recognize the
Canadiens’ rights that had been taken away by the Proclamation. Therefore, in
1774, Britain passed a law with new plans for the colony
Copy the Terms of the Quebec Act on page 120 below
Terms of the Quebec Act:
The Beginnings of a Bilingual Canada
Bilingualism recognized two of the peoples that forged the foundations of
Canada. Bilingualism means that Canada has two official languages: French and
English. It means that Canadian citizens have the right to government services in
either language. It means they have the right to do business in either language.
Bilingualism is central to the Canadian identity
The origin of bilingualism was the Quebec Act. The British recognized the
Canadiens’ right to maintain their language and traditions. This was a foundation
for peace. Quebec, and later Canada, became a partnership between French- and
English-speaking citizens.
QUESTIONS:
1. Look at figure 5.18 on page 116.
a) What mood does the painting convey?
Devastation
b) What parts of the painting convey this mood?
The use of light, colour, the placement and size of the people, the sky and its clouds, and
so on.
c) What effect does war have on civilians?
Damage to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure; the supply of food and other
goods; the deaths of civilians; and so on
2. Read The Treaty of Paris, 1763 on page 117. Which groups were not addressed by the
Treaty of Paris?
First Nations
3. Read Choices for the Future on page 117. List the pros and cons for each option
presented below.
Eviction Assimilation Accommodation
Pros
Cons
4. Read The Royal Proclamation of 1763 on page 118.
a) What do you think Britain hoped to achieve with the Royal Proclamation?
Regarding the Canadiens, the Royal Proclamation was an act of assimilation. The goal
was to encourage French-speaking colonists to give up their language and religion and
become loyal British subject. The Proclamation also attempted to maintain peace with
the First Nations by setting aside a huge amount of land solely for their use
b) Why do you think the Proclamation angered British colonists in the Thirteen Colonies?
The Proclamation prevented non-Aboriginal settlement west of the Appalachians, so
Quebec became one of the only options for British colonists who wanted land
5. Look at figure 5.21 on page 119. How is the king engaged in active citizenship?
The king is engaged in active citizenship by protecting the lands of First Nations from
private purchase in order to prevent unscrupulous deals and further damage to the
relationship between Britain and the First nations.
6. Read Canada Today and look at figure 5.22 on page 119. Why are documents such as
the Proclamation of 1763 so important to First Nations?
Documents such as the Proclamation of 1763 are important because they are written,
legal documents that support First Nations’ land and treaty rights
7. Read The Beginnings of a Bilingual Canada on page 120.
a) Identify those areas of your daily life that reflect Canada’s bilingual heritage.
Bilingual signs and labels on packaging; the use of French and English on federal
government websites and documents; there are French schools, newspapers, radio
stations, TV stations, universities, and international artists and celebrities, and so on
b) In what ways does the Quebec Act represent the origins of Canada’s identity today?
Accommodatins/respecting differences, the start of multiculturalism, the wish to maintain
peace among peoples, and so on
Think it Through
1. Britain’s takeover.
a) What was the impact of Britain’s takeover of New France?
b) Did the Canadiens get a bad deal or a good deal?
2. Military events.
a) How did military events and their consequences contribute to the foundations of
Canada?
These events and the resulting treaties laid the foundations for a bilingual, pluralistic
country and for Aboriginal rights
b) List some specific military events.
- Seven years’ war; the Battle on the Plains of Abraham; the Treaty of Paris, 1763; the
Royal Proclamation of 1763; the Quebec Act of 1774
Focus: How did the British treatment of their new colonies and the people who lived
there influence the future of Canada?