An analysis of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham by Dahlia Varma
Canada, how we know it today, was shaped by the events of a single hour, on September 13, 1759. Taken place on a field in front of 65-meter-tall cliffs, a groundbreaking battle raged between the French and the British, led by some of each side’s finest commanders. The battle would decide if the French would keep Quebec, their capital and biggest settlement in North America or if the British would be able to expand their presence in North America and create a powerful country in the future. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was the most impactful, significant event of the Seven Years War in North America for three reasons. Because of the battle, the French lost the capital of New France to the British, causing the political landscape of that area to change. To add to that, the long-term effects shaped the culture of Canada today.
Firstly, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham resulted in the French losing their capital of New France to the British. The French surrendered their city after retreating and being ambushed by British battle strategies. Proof of the British triumph happened on September 18, five days after the battle. This was when the French commander signed the Articles of Capitulation, officially turning Quebec over to the British. After this, the French settlers in Quebec fell under British rule and the rest of New France slowly disappeared without a capital. Evidence of British victory was how the French retreated into Quebec powerless when Commander Montcalm and Commander Wolfe were both mortally wounded. 640 French and 650 British soldiers were also wounded or killed. Finally, the British were able to win the battle due to clever strategies thought up by Commander Wolfe. He ordered his men to double load their muskets for the first battle fire and wait until the French got in close enough range to hit before firing. Meanwhile, the French attacked immediately, and their bullets were too far away to hit the attackers. The British hit them when they were reloading their muskets. The British strategies changed the course of the battle entirely. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham resulted in the French losing the capital of New France, with long-term effects that continue to be shown today.
Secondly, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham caused a change in politics in Upper North America. How it changed the future of laws, government, and borders made the battle the most important of all. To start, British victory of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham caused the Royal Proclamation of 1763, an act that replaced French law with English criminal and civil law. This meant that all French settlers living in Quebec had to move somewhere else or follow the laws of the British. Evidence shows that the battle gave Britain ownership over almost all Upper North America, and their laws still impact the country here today. Britain is still here through the governor general, who represents the United Kingdom in Canada’s government and how King Charles III of England is also Canada’s monarch. Lastly, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham led to a change in British laws to accommodate the French under their rule. Seven years after the Royal Proclamation, the French living under British rule realized that being Catholic prevented them from having public position. The British changed their policies in the Quebec Act of 1774 so the French would be able to practice their religion but follow British laws. These points outline how the Battle of the Plains of Abraham made a big impact on politics in Canada today.
Thirdly, the Battle of the Plains of Abraham would affect the culture and identity of settlers and the land in the future. Under British rule, French settlers would become bilingual, and their lifestyle would change but their culture would hold strong. To begin, proof shows that French settlers were taught to speak English and today, 52% of the population of Quebec can speak English. This stemmed from the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, and how the French living in Quebec were forced to change their ways. Next, British culture and trading were brought to Quebec and the rest of future Canada, thanks to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Much of the population at the time were to practice Anglicanism. Service and activities were also introduced to Upper North America, such as the red cross, boy scouts, and girl guides. Finally, French culture held strong, and it created a unique French society, within a larger British settled country. Because of the battle 60,000 French settlers came under British rule but today their language, religion, and culture continue to impact Canada. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham affected the culture and identity of Upper North America in the past, present, and future.
The most significant, impactful event of the Seven Years War was the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, changing the course of history forever in one hour. French power in North America was transferred to the British, proven through the Articles of Capitulation, the battle strategies of the British, and the outcomes of the battle. The political system in North America would forever be changed with the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Quebec Act of 1774 and Britain’s influence on our country today. Finally, the culture of future Canada was developed through the English language influencing the land, the traditions and lifestyle of settlers changing, and the French culture holding strong while adapting under British rule. The country that we live in today stemmed from and was made possible by the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Although the event itself lasted one hour, the effects that it had on North America continue to be shown through Canadians today.
References
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History.com Editors. (2009, November 9). Battle of Quebec (1759). History. https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/battle-of-quebec-1759
History Tools. (n.d.). The siege of Quebec: The battle that reshaped North America. History Tools. https://www.historytools.org/stories/the-siege-of-quebec-the-battle-that-reshaped-north-america
Miquelon, D., & Massicotte, L., & McIntosh, A. (2019). The Conquest of New France. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/conquest
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Christou, T., Collishaw, R., Hallman-Chong, S., & Hendricks, C. (2016). Nelson History 7. Nelson Education Ltd. ch3_p.80-87.pdf
Thanks for reading! This article is written by Dahlia Varma.
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