Until this great work is completed, our dominion is little more than a geographical expression - Sir John A. Macdonald

Travel through the eras of  history and the development of the various nations that make up Canada today.

A New France | The Iroquois | English Invasion | Peace | Seigneiurial System | The Kings Girls | Canadian Identity | Society | Government | The Church | Champlain | Frontenac | Acadia | The Fall

The fall of New France to England was a defining point of the seven years war between England and France and was a part of Prime Minister Pitt's (England) master plan to fight and defeat the French by use of naval power on a world wide basis. The Seven Years War was started on the frontiers of the 13 colonies and the French territory of the Mississippi basin but quickly spread and the first few years saw English defeats throughout the Americas. Pitt regrouped naval and military power and began the process of taking French positions along the Atlantic and then up the St Lawrence. Louisbourg fell to General Amherst and the English forces after a siege in July of 1758. This effectively provided England with a cut off point for any French reinforcements going up the St Lawrence to Quebec City and Montreal. Quebec City was the main starting point for supplies to the Mississippi basin and hence that western area would also become weakened and fall to English forces.

The next phase of the plan began the following year as the St Lawrence became ice free, the British sailed up to Quebec City with forces under the command of James Wolfe. The siege lasted into September and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham resulted in the death of Wolfe and the French commander Montcalm and the fall of Quebec City to the British. 1760 brought the conclusion of the campaign when Montreal fell to the British and then all awaited the result of the peace treaty that would determine whether New France was given back to France, as it had been in the past, or it would be absorbed into British North America.

The Treaty of Paris gave New France, with the exception of a few islands to be used for fishing rights, to England permanently. Thus began an new era in the history of Canada. This may rightly be considered the birthplace of Canada as it is today because this is where the British/French population in New France. accommodations began in an effort to develop together rather then a battle to defeat each other.