Great Britain: The First Global Power
So far we've been learning mostly about what was happening in New France. However, many important changes were happening in Great Britain during this same period that we should also be aware of.
- By the late 17th century the British were able to take control of global markets away from competitors, especially the Dutch, through war and innovations.
- Fought three wars against the Dutch between 1652 - 1674
- The growth of capitalism led to huge social transformations. Poor people that lost their lands worked for businesses and received a small wage (salary). This allowed for increased production of goods (clothing, furniture, etc)
- Colonies of the British developed economies that were much more diversified than in New France. For example:
- New England: local industries for local consumption and farming
- The South: tobacco, rice, cotton
- Centre (NY, NJ etc): fur trade and later agriculture
Towards the Conquest of New France
By 1755, New France is surrounded by British Colonies. The British recognized their advantage in North America while the French were more concerned with Europe than North America.
Why do you think France would be more worried about Europe than England?
Why do you think France would be more worried about Europe than England?
The Great Upheaval (Acadian Expulsion)
The Acadians claimed to be neutral (neither supporting France nor the British) and refused to swear allegiance to the British king. The British were skeptical of their claims of neutrality and in 1755, when British troops attacked forts in Acadia (Nova Scotia) the Acadians and natives defended the forts. The British took this as a sign of Acadian support for the French and took the exceptional decision to deport them to other British colonies. Many Acadians escaped to New France and Louisiana, both of which were still French colonies at the time. By the end of the deportation, now called the 'Great Upheaval', more than 80% of the Acadians were sent off their lands.
The War of the Conquest
France's focus on Europe resulted in an unequal balance of power in North America (see Figure 5.1 on p. 190). British forces were able to win a number of victories that allowed them to attack Quebec City in September of 1759. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was the decisive battle between the French and English in North America and the British victory led to their domination of the continent. In this battle:
- Both leaders, General James Wolfe (British) and the Marquis de Montcalm (French) died in battle.
- Around 700 French troops and militiamen died
- Around 60 British troops, most them Scotsmen, died.
The Death of Montcalm by Marc Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté- The Death of Wolfe by Benjamin West National Art Gallery of Canada
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Taken from Hark! A Vagrant
The British victory and the end of the French in North America had some important consequences on the aboriginal populations.
- They were no longer able to profit off European rivalries.
- Most nations had fought with the French and this meant they had to find a way to now live with the British.
- Some were able to sign PEACE TREATIES with the British that allowed them to keep their lands, although these were often not respected by the British.
- Aboriginals were weakened militarily and this also hurt them in other ways: p 193 "the British did not sell ammunition and gunpowder to the aboriginals, probably for fear of an armed uprising of the former allies of the French. No longer able to use their guns to hunt, the aboriginals of the region were threatened with famine."
The Treaty of Paris (1763) meant that the French ceded almost all of their territory in North America. French Canadiens, who still lived in what was New France, were worried about what life in British North America (BNA) would be like.
- Read the excerpt on p194 and and answer the following questions:
- What were the French worries?
- What were they able to keep after the conquest?