Watch The Battle for North America | Part One

On 13 September 1759, on the Plains of Abraham near the city of Quebec, an outnumbered British army fought a battle that would change the history of the world: the Battle of Quebec. For the past three years, Britain and France were locked in a bitter struggle for dominance in the Seven Years War: the world’s first truly global conflict that involved every great European power and spanned five continents, leading some historians to call it World War Zero. One of the most famous theatres of this war was in North America.
Today we take it for granted that Americans speak English, not French, but it could have been very different if events in 1759 had had the alternate outcome. Deep in the heart of French territory in the Americas was Quebec, the nucleus of that nation’s power in the New World. From there the French had inflicted wave after wave of defeats on the British in the years preceding 1759. Yet that year the British decided to launch a bold operation into the heart of New France to quell this threat. It sent a fleet of nearly 200 ships, carry 10,000 men, under the command of General James Wolfe, on a treacherous mission through unchartered territory with the task of taking Quebec.
It was a bold strategy; just reaching New France’s capital seemed an impossible task. It thus required Britain to use its industrial strength, naval supremacy and a scientific approach to fight a campaign unlike any that had gone before. In time this new method of warfare would enable Britain to forge the largest empire in history, with London at its very centre. Yet its future success all depended on victory at Quebec.
In ‘The Battle for North America’, historian Dan Snow explains why the Battle of Quebec deserves to be on your list of history’s most decisive battles. He sets sail up the St Lawrence River, retracing the route taken by the British fleet, and discovers how this pivotal battle shaped the future of the British Empire and North America.
Part 1 of 2.
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[@mattmobily1975]

History Hit should be congratulated for filling the hole left by The History Channel after its obsession with reality TV and ancient alien pseudoscience.

[@HistoryHit]

Yes!

[@bear1245]

Absolutely correct with the Alien nonsense.

[@joelbilly1355]

Loggers and oil drillers too

[@AssaultDragoon]

Seriously, I learned so much as a kid from the history chamnel from many of these experts. Thank you souch for bringing it back

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

I don’t want to say it’s aliens… …but it’s aliens! FFS…

[@jdghok]

I was born in Ontario in 1971 to Scots parents, we moved back to Scotland in 1976 I'd always had a calling to go back to Canada so after my 20th birthday i went to B.C and lived for 4 years, i then went traveling the world for years after it, i never did get a chance to go back to see the Eastern provinces where all this happened, ive got a big family now back in Fife 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 but as soon as i can afford to go back im making a pilgrimage to all these places back East hopefully before i meet my maker, i love Canada 🇨🇦

[@scottcook9823]

Dan Snow (and his father) have created some of the best historical battlefield documentaries I have ever seen!

[@edwardjohn6694]

God Bless you Sir for teaching us the history. God Bless Great Britain 🇬🇧

[@francissoulard6874]

my grand-grand uncle 6 generations before mine died at la Batailles des Plaines d'Abraham, his name was Jacques Soulard; he was a militianman from the small village St-Roch-des-Aulnaies.

[@avtobasiladze4294]

Oh,you should be realy proud of your descendant

[@kinggeorgeiii7515]

I have at least 4 ancestors who fought at the Plains of Abraham, both British and French. One of which was a lieutenant in the British army. I also have an ancestor that was a drummer in the French army, and married a widow who was previously married to a colonel that died at the Plains of Abraham.

[@mattymaloy3949]

RIB rest in baguette

[@gemmeliusgrammaticus2509]

May God bless him and you. Vive La Royaume Francaise!

[@linusp9316]

And my great-grandfather: he was the johnny who knelt beside Wolfe at Quebec.

[@nonsibi1087]

Little known today, the British campaign to take Quebec City in 1759 was the SECOND such effort. Exactly 69 years earlier, in the fall of 1690, Quebec City was attacked by a large combined British naval & infantry force. Under the command of Sir William Phips, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and with the support of King William III, this entirely New England force of about 62 vessels and several thousand infantry beseiged the French in Quebec City and fought a three-day infantry battle as well as a lengthy naval bombardment. In the end, the seige failed and the British force retired down the St. Lawrence River, having learned that a much larger force would be needed to ever take the citadel. The French, for their part, also learned that they would need to greatly strengthen their defenses if they were to hold onto New France.

[@jean-louislalonde6070]

The British tried and failed AGAIN in 1711 when a fleet of 71 ships led by admiral Hovenden Walker was going up the St Laurent. Eight ships wrecked against l'ile aux Oeufs, killing 1400 and the fleet turned back.

[@nonsibi1087]

@@jean-louislalonde6070 How interesting! I didn't know that...

[@thomaslacornette1282]

Ironically they conquered it in 1629 but this was an "illegal invasion" because war was over in europe , and english gave it back to french after negotiating. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kirke

[@michaelbevan1081]

I’ve been living in Canada for the past 5-6 years, I’m already hooked to this.

[@dougreimer2912]

As a 🇨🇦 I found this very insightful. The battle for Quebec has been a core element in the teaching of early Canadian history. I've never seen it presented so we'll.

[@bakersmileyface]

It's interesting how you describe it as a core element in the teaching of Canadian History, but as a Brit I've never even heard of it before. Most of our history teaching was about the the year of 1066, William the conqueror, Henry the 8th, the Victorians and a lot about the Roman Empire. When I was in school, I don't think the British Empire and our colonial ventures was mentioned once come to think of it.

[@dougreimer2912]

@@bakersmileyface That's right. It was far away. Britain defeated the French and took control of Canada and in turn 20 yrs later Britain lost America. They just moved on to more empire building and forgot about it. A footnote. Here in 🇨🇦 British history is taught and is popular. Here 🇨🇦 history has to compete with 🇺🇸 history.

[@davey1602]

@@dougreimer2912 The USA has the newest empire, but not one of conquest in the literal sense It is one of media, fast food and cultural reform. I would have no problem with that - vae victis and all that guff - but American grammar is infiltrating British schools.

[@MelGibsonFan]

@@dougreimer2912 Interesting for us too. We learn about our loss up there (1812) but it’s not really taught to as us losing to Canadians, but losing those battles to the Brits.

[@ianmedford4855]

I couldn't help but notice much of Quebec "history" is presented as "let me tell you how the French losing at The Plains of Abraham means that they kind of won if you think about it."

[@trivet1970]

Dan Snows documentaries rock!

[@ryangerrard4048]

George Washington fighting for the British, well well well 😂, James cook mapping the Saint Lawrence? Loved this!

[@doug6500]

Well... he considered himself English up until he had a temper tantrum about not being exalted as an Englishman (i.e. being made a British officer).

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

Saunders and Wolfe were both great men. May they Rest In Peace.

[@pwopwo1]

Wolfe was at the command of an army that destroyed a Canadians city, killed Canadian civilians, burned farms of Canadian people to create starvation, raped Canadian ladies ... Yes, Wolfe was a hero for the fake Canadians.

[@scottmurray5600]

I like it when you have to do the same 'blind' drills as these men. You get to know the difficulty, technical savvy and discipline which had to be so fine tuned. I would have been as slow too and no doubt dropped my firearm. I had no idea the St Lawrence was so treacherous, the sailing scene and depth sounder experience was fantastic. Thank you for a great video.

[@avtobasiladze4294]

I have never seen such a great documentary film.Thanks History Hit for this product

[@tinaharrison9354]

Loved this selection of videos history hits is brilliant thank you all

[@nickoppedisano7225]

I was on the HMCS Ville de Quebec in 2002 and we tried to go to port in Levi across from Quebec City. A change in tide slam us across the jetty and ripped a hole in our hull 50 feet long. Still a dangerous place to sail.

[@michellesheaff3779]

That's why ships are required to take on a St. Lawrence pilot. The river has chewed up and spat out cruise ships if they're not careful. It's not just the different depths, banks, rocks, islands, ice, storms and currents, it's the tides. You don't expect tides so far from the ocean, especially such strong ones. It's a humongous river, yet the water flows against the current when the tide comes in twice a day.

[@darrell3752]

This is awesome work. Thank you.

[@twstf8905]

Beautiful place, Quebec city. 👍 🇨🇦

[@chrisbergonzi7977]

Just found your channel....great, great stuff here....just scribed. Thanks man...keep up the good work.

[@realscience948]

Real important history for North America……this and the fight for Newfoundland! Great show…where’s part two?

[@HistoryHit]

Part 2 coming today!

[@youtubehatesus2651]

this was very interesting. thank you

[@eddyalexiou9951]

Excellent presentation 🎥📽🎬

[@Leesoldier12]

English Canadian: The battle of Quebec was the founding of our nation! French Canadian: Hum...it was already Canada before you came. This is our nation! Native american: Hold my beer

[@beardedlonewolf7695]

It wasn't Canada before they came though. Also MANY French Canadians have blood from the first nations of Algonquin and Huron tribes that were prevalent compared to English Canadians because well British were and are British...

[@Leesoldier12]

@@beardedlonewolf7695 nope

[@Leesoldier12]

@CHRISTIAN KNIGHT sorry, it was meant for someone else

[@SirGenderon]

​@@beardedlonewolf7695 New France was seperated in multiple regional government. Canada was one of those. The canadians called themselves canadiens and joined militia to defend their territory against the british. Canada was already a thing before the british stole it's name and made it their identity. The word "Canadian" shoukd mean french canadian by default. It's the british who should call themselves english canadians.

[@alongfortheride84]

"a rocky outcrop of barren land always assaulted by wind and rain and banks of fog" describes pretty much the bulk of Nova Scotia. But seriously, it is really nice for about 5-8 weeks each year.

[@alfadasfire]

oooh sounds like the perfect place to live. i hate heat and dont really like the sunshine. but i imagine there is almost nothing around there so you'd have to travel very far for basic stuff?

[@shahansindhi8141]

I remember watching animated versions of the battle where both English and French commanders fall, and that was inspirational.

[@alanhopgood1888]

I was taught about this battle aged about 10 in the early 70s by our 60 year old teacher, Mr Jones. Before the days of the National Curriculum and the removal of almost any reference to the British Empire in history lessons. We also learnt about Clive of India and the Black Hole of Calcutta.

[@bg3297]

Love it. Please come back to Pittsburgh again.

[@squared4440]

Im watching this for my upcoming british America GCSE This is very insightful and enjoyable!

[@psnaris]

Largely forgotten battle? Not around here, mate.

[@richardanger2199]

French Canadians do not forget either

[@miggiepatateatomique]

Our whole nation slogan in Quebec is "Je me souviens" for a reason! (Which means "I remember" or "I recall")

[@jjm6010]

Nice shots of Pittsburgh. Going to the Strip is always fun.

[@miller7759]

Right on....Hello from Butler County..

[@Bangkok-ik1fp]

That was awesome history!

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

It was not an “unprovoked attack” since the French were in Virginia, British territory What Washington didn’t know, and what really enraged the French, was that the French party was escorting an envoy Also Britain and France would not officially declare war until Frederick the Great invaded Austria and Saxony

[@pwopwo1]

British army ; outnumbered ?? Population English Americans : 1 million. Canadians : 65 000. At the battle, they were about the same number each side : 4000 soldiers. Well trained, well armed Brits against French soldiers and Canadian militia. The year after the defeat. Canadian militia won the second battle of the Plains of Abraham. Battle of Saint-Foy. If Canada finally surrender months after, it was because Canadians were tremendously outnumbered.

[@thomaslacornette1282]

Yes i thought i heard bad, that was the french who were outnumbered in north america on the scale of the whole conflict, not on the battles like you said. iremenber seeing another documentary who explained very well that the sieges of Quebec who were crucial and french almost retook québec after long siege but had to withdraw in the end.

[@pwopwo1]

​@@thomaslacornette1282 You have never heard of the Battle of Carillon 1758. The French army and Canadian militia (total 4000) once again defeated the well-trained and well-armed British army (16,000) But the disproportion was too great when we capitulated in Montréal in 1760.

[@thomaslacornette1282]

@@pwopwo1 I heard of it, but under the name of Ticonderonga but being in a fort is severe advantage on defensive that's not same as open field battle. I knew Ticonderonga was originally a french fort.

[@pwopwo1]

@@thomaslacornette1282 Carillon was a French and Canadian fort. The battle did not take place at the fort but well ahead. Great victory against the “UK/US” troops who were trying to invade Canada. We lost at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. The following spring, the Canadian militia won at the Battle of Sainte-Foy. We finally succumbed to numbers in September 1760.

[@thomaslacornette1282]

@@pwopwo1 Ok they were not in the fort but entrenched near the fort so they had a defensive advantage, and if things gone really bad could still retreat into the fort.

[@freedomloverusa3030]

You should do a Vid about how the British took Havana in 1762, it was epic beyond words, the artillery duel among the Spanish and British armies, and especially the final British bayonet assault in the Morro Castle. I personally met several families of British descent in the Havana town of Guanabacoa.

[@Camecol21]

Can I ask what software you used to display the historic map? Specifically around the @21:40 mark?

[@abrahamdozer6273]

The American Revolution that followed created two countries ultimately, not just one. That part keeps getting forgotten.

[@abrahamdozer6273]

@@vinnyganzano1930 My worry exactly ...

[@victorbukowsky7496]

Kick ass stuff, enjoyed it very much. Very good docs, very good narrator. Keep it up! Ill be watching

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Great documentary, this was a conflict I never would have learned in school that definitely needed to be taught. As an American we don’t get much history about Canada but their history is very much connected to ours, it’s a shame really our history isn't seen culturally as a more unified history. Those cliffs along the St. Lawrence are really a site to behold, they knew how to pick the perfect spot for a defensible city.

[@mbirdmann1866]

I remember learning about these wars in school. They didn't go into this level of detail.

[@GrudgeyCable]

Should look into the previous French and Indian wars as well than. They are almost never talked about but are critical to understanding this story fully and the situation at large. Check out queen Anne’s war 1702-1713 at least. Interesting stuff.

[@xGoodOldSmurfehx]

thanks for covering North America's ultimate climax the showdown between France and Britain defined our world today one can indeed only wonder how different everything would be if the French had won always feels nice to see my city through the eyes of others and history itself :)

[@mw8498]

The colored French North America map is off a bit. Western New York State was part of New France until the British captured Fort Niagara in 1759.

[@mickharrison9004]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👊

[@benm5913]

Canada is underestimated in historical military might. They fended off the British and then they fended off an early American army. Good for them.

[@andyl4621]

FENDED off the british????? they are the British

[@barongaylordkrinjin9844]

Lol....Canada was an extension of the British Empire.

[@williamward446]

Just out of curiosity, when you were researching your book, did you use Parkman's bibliographies?

[@almondmilkisthebest7849]

What was the march song during 6:18 called? Anyone know?

[@chrisholland7367]

The Royal Marines when put ashore provided a faint a diversion by climbing the cliffs at Quabec for general Wolfe . Per Mare Per Terram.This documentary is very informative.

[@petermallia558]

I was thinking as I'm watching this video, that when he was talking about the British sailing to Quebec, that they surely would've began taking measurements, depths of the River using a "Sounding line",( a bit like a "plumbob" but for depth rather than measuring vertical alignment. Also to continue, measuring its width, mapped any sandbanks, and inlets, tributaries etc..etc...and funny enough at around 15:53 Dan begins talking about exactly that. Awesome 😎👍🏻 I love this stuff, English/British History, why, well because for one, I'm English, and two, because the UK is awesome, best country on Earth, this country has freed more people than Moses, 1000s of times more people. This beautiful flag 🇬🇧 Means Freedom, Liberty, and a No Nonsense Approach to Global Diplomacy, respected world over, whether it's the UK and it's overseas territories and Crown Dependencies, The Commonwealth of Nations, The G-7 the G-20,(19), NATO, and by any country that has a bilateral pacts and agreements with us. The UK is a leading country for more things globally than people would or could even imagine. To Be British is to Be Proud of Ones History, Taking the Good with the bad, because the good this Great Nation has done, way out ways the bad by far. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿

[@sandrider1406]

british empire = slavery, genocide, looting and oppression.

[@sandrider1406]

What garbage you speak, that flag has been the cause of all the disputed regions of this world and caused suffering and death where ever it went. You are a complete colonial racist to even suggest anything good has come from colonisation. Go tell the amazing Aboriginal peoples of Canada and Australia of the pain and suffering, child deaths in homes , made to feel like they don’t belong to their own country. You fool you have no idea.

[@jean-louislalonde6070]

Je m'appelle Bond. Jambon...

[@cylac12]

I imagine having camps with exactly the same layout would have a tactical advantage too. Men would instinctivly know where to go, even half asleep, if the camp were to be attacked.

[@grahamking2239]

Like his book

[@miller7759]

I live in Western Pa Butler County. Which was in the Heart of this conflict. Kittanning Pa Armstrong County or Fort Armstrong was the next Fort North up the Allegheny River from Fort Duquesne. There was a battle called the battle of Blanket Hill and battle of fort Armstrong. The British Defeated Armstrong and his Native American allies. I hike the North County Trail Alot and as I do so I think of how many Native American tribes Colonists and Soldiers traveled that major highway of that time. We have the Washington Trail here in Western Pa.

[@aldenunion]

From Scranton in England now..Salute..

[@borvir_play]

6:25 What music is it?

[@GrudgeyCable]

This was the 4th and final “French and Indian war”. If only y’all would make documentaries of those equally important but often untold wars with stories of their own. Especially king Williams war 1689-1697, and queen Anne’s war 1702-1713 as the English call them. Great documentary still!

[@shahansindhi8141]

A series about the "Battle of Lepanto"!

[@FiveLiver]

you want Kings and Generals kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZouThGubiMd3oLM

[@davidkimball7427]

So where is part two?

[@graceamerican3558]

On this side of the pond it was called the French-Indian War. I had 6th great grands that were there.

[@andrewbell1439]

Would be awsome if they did a battlefield britain style documentary on this! with the actors and cgi fold out board

[@edwardmeade]

I like that Dan knows how to measure a fathom.👍

[@haraldisdead]

I like how he refers to the defenders of Quebec as "Canadians," but the English forces are "English from the 13 colonies," rather than "Americans."

[@davidcooke8005]

It's weird seeing Dan on the National Mall in the US. He's always in England.

[@geraintthatcher3076]

Common Dan, it's been awhile now when are you gonna do a Sequel either on the Battle of Saint Foy or the 1775 Siege of Quebec ?

[@doug6500]

Saint Foy is moot because it had no strategic consequences. A foray out of Quebec failed but the British had already secured the city by defeating the French fleet at Queberon Bay. The 1775 event might be worth it though as it was one of several failed American attempts to grab it along with the whole of Upper and Lower Canada.

[@thomaslacornette1282]

The other day i was looking at a map of old french Louisiana and this is crazy how many Americans towns origins from french forts.

[@twstf8905]

"Chinless" Jim Wolfe 😂

[@ethancook3245]

James wolff was born very near me in westerham which just down the road from me

[@johnt8636]

Very nice. But disappointed Dan didn't cover just how the British were able to establish their camp atop the cliffs. That was an incredible feat of arms, even by today's standards.

[@plugs313]

Dude, you gotta watch part two...

[@johnt8636]

@@plugs313 Yeah, I did.

[@plugs313]

@@johnt8636 found this pretty good... a well done doc.

[@L_Martin]

24:59 "It's a novel interpretation of the drill." 😂

[@canugizabit2810]

we were brilliant

[@txgunguy2766]

In Europe it was known as The Seven Years War but in America it's known as The French and Indian War.

[@EdinburghFive]

That is not technically the case. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) started earlier, and was then subsumed by the wider global conflict of the Seven Years War (1756-1763).

[@pwopwo1]

Not in America but in USA, so also in English Canada.

[@Hoozpoppin]

I don’t know where the recipe for the spruce beer came from but it shouldn’t be fermented like a traditional beer.

[@cylac12]

Possibly one of the first recipe's? I don't know, but I would imagine if they used that one, might have been one of the rare occasions of actually forcing soldier to drink beer... saying that, it may have been an ex squaddie who told me how to make moonshine out of bootpolish and bread.

[@christianszabo4889]

It’s cool to see that Dan leaves his Lancaster bomber cockpit occasionally

[@kevlarburrito6693]

Not to be overly critical, but I'm fairly certain the reenactors at the end, at least the commander, got something wrong. When issuing commands it's supposed to be a preparatory "Shoulder your..." followed by a short pause, then "...firelocks!"

[@racheltaylor6578]

Wolfe was at Culloden.

[@n990]

I’m sure Mr Snow is not on the comments but I’m curious if he’s ever read Francis Parkman’s history of the French and Indian war?

[@EdinburghFive]

Parkman's writing is important and interesting but it is clear he is a product of American society in the nineteenth-century, just a wee bit of bias there.

[@AlexQC9]

"Now largely forgotten" Not here I can tell you that !

[@cam5816]

Who would’ve thought that General Wolfe and Captain James Cooke were into sounding

[@canadianbakin1304]

i have a small print picture of the death of Wolfe somewhere around here

[@carveraugustus3840]

Brooooo. This book Dan wrote years ago. It. Is. Great.

[@heavybreath]

Very good documentary - Considering my ancestors founded the colony of New France in the 17th century

[@Jubilo1]

Dan's magmun opus !

[@michellesheaff3779]

I live right next to the Plains of Abraham Battlefield Park and take my dog for her walk there every day. So every day I pass by Here Died Wolfe, the cannons, the fortifications. And I think, this is where we lost North America. It's okay though. There's a funny cartoon of le Marquis de Montcalm standing in front of a map of the battlefield with the title "The Long-Term Plan" and he's saying "...then in 1980 and 1991 we'll hold referendums to separate and rather than break up the country they'll give us more powers and recognize us as a distinct nation." After all, Québec is still here and it's still Québécois. Thank you, this really brought history alive. And it made me wonder what the world would look like now had the French held on to New France.

[@iamplay797]

Well we wouldn't be slaves to the king England so i guess it would be a much better canada

[@jennybates]

The battle for Quebec is mentioned in the movie Zulu.

[@jeffrybungle2502]

My great grandfather was the chap that knelt at wolf's side in Quebec, class line

[@timothycaron2087]

As a Québécois-American who’s related to a huge chunk of the original settlers, that battle will always be heartbreak (although I understand the development of the US would’ve been WAY different if the French won the War).

[@theoutlook55]

Yep

[@ds1868]

Well it's a good job the British did win. I cannot believe anyone would wish to speak French or adopt French culture, so loathsome it did become through the nineteenth century and culminating in the collaboration with the Third Reich in 1940. The French have never recovered from the loss of North America, followed by utter defeat in 1815, and have been sulking ever since.

[@beardedlonewolf7695]

@@ds1868 You're delusional and know so little about history it's hilarious, and I'm pretty sure most people would have preferred to speak French to English (which is such a dull language) back then and nowadays it wouldn't make any difference we'd all learn French, Spanish and English anyway.

[@doug6500]

@@beardedlonewolf7695 You reply with more ignorance. Well done. You accuse the English language of being dull because it is simply something that everyone speaks. Indeed, the French defeat in North America has cemented that rather anglophpone fact :-)

[@garl55]

@@ds1868 The fuck are you on about hahahaha

[@SkepticalChris]

funny how Dan Snow, who is half canadian, seems to only emphasize the effect of the war, on the United States, and not Canada itself,. The 7 years war aka French and Indian War did just as much to define Canada as it did the United States. Why does Canada still have recognition of the monachy and a Parliamentary system? All related to this war.......and not to mention half of this documentary was filmed in Canada.

[@miggiepatateatomique]

The whole French vs English battle we constantly have, still today in Canada is a testament of how THIS war is the very foundation of the whole country of Canada. Us in the province of Quebec learn about this conflict as being the most important thing that has ever happened in history xD (even more so than WW1 or WW2)

[@Belisarius1967]

@@miggiepatateatomique That's insane to know.

[@hyperman8887]

At 5:00 that looks like one of the scenes from inglorious bastards

[@paulaustin29]

Everything in this video screams Minnesota 🤣 I know it's not but the northern scenery is amazing!!

[@Conn30Mtenor]

I think that this doco doesn't recognize the first nations people's effect on this war, which was significant.

[@joehoul]

26:30 Nevermind

[@matthewmay1494]

Spruce beer. LOL. I hadn't thought about that grotesque creation in years. Glad we have more fruit in Canada now.

[@stevetaylor8298]

Great history, but too much Dan Snow. Dan you are often standing in front to something I want to see. Try voice overring a bit more.

[@tko8218]

4:18 George Washington started the first global war. Wow!

[@iamplay797]

A real American expert at starting wars

[@jabom99]

Why can't the CBC make an informative and entertaining documentary about this important and pivitol part of Canadian history that anyone can watch on KZbin? oh sorry, i forgot, IT'S THE CBC!

[@tommyb.justis6274]

kool 😉

[@Zraknul]

Battle of Quebec and the effects are most visible in...record scratch...the US???

[@t.wcharles2171]

Surprisingly enough the victory over France in the Seven Years war was the first of a series of dominoes that resulted in American independence

[@grahamsell3863]

Man, I can't believe they actually shot the camera man at the end.

[@cjseckinger8796]

But we never called it the Battle of Quebec in my day (not in French, anyway). We call it the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, or “Les Plaines d’Abraham” in French.

[@cjseckinger8796]

@CHRISTIAN KNIGHT Canada is neither French nor British at this point. Influenced by both cultures (and many others of course), not to mention climate and geography, Canada is “Canadian”.

[@matthewct8167]

I think the French didn’t stand a chance in North America. British colonists outnumbered the French ones by at least 10 to 1. Frankly it’s a testament to the French that they lasted this long.

[@abrahamdozer6273]

The French discouraged settlement. It was a business enterprise for them, not a place to put excess populations.

[@matthewct8167]

@@abrahamdozer6273 exactly. Pretty much the reason their chances for a war in North America is slim to say the least. Especially when their government in France was prioritizing Europe over North America, and the superior British Navy was blocking access to the American colonies

[@iangraham6887]

Remember though, France at this time had one of the best militaries, their armies were more skilled than that of the British. They also had many more alliances with the surrounding aboriginal tribes than the British did which bolstered their fighting force. The one thing France lacked was a comparable navy to the British. This was the Achilles heel for New France as they could not protect their supply routes which were mostly sea based. Also fortress Louisbourg was economy shatteringly expensive to build due to its sheer size. It was only completed with major defenses facing the sea where they expected the brunt of most attacks. However British forces landed thousands of Royal Marines behind the fort and flanked the otherwise defenceless rear of the fortress. This was the only major supply route defence that the French possessed before the interior forts of Quebec. The British then used louisbourg and halifax as staging grounds to launch an attack epedition up the st Lawrence river towards Quebec which finished off New France for good.

[@abrahamdozer6273]

@@iangraham6887 Yes, France was the more powerful of the two empires. Britain has always had small armies and powerful navies going back to Tudor times. (During WWI when France, Russia, Germany, Austria were fielding tens of millions, Britain showed up with 100,000 and they struggled to even put that together). I've been to Louisbourg a couple of times and I remember being told that the contractor who supplied the mortar for the walls sold off the sand imported from France at considerable cost (to line his pockets)that was known to make a strong enough mortar to withstand cannon hits and substituted the local Cape Breton stuff off of the beach. The mortar crumbles and so did the walls when the British cannon balls hit them. By the way, Louisbourg didn't fall to the British from Britain. It fell to the British from Boston who utterly destroyed this threat on their doorstep. The British from Boston had different motivations in this war and they almost qualify as being a third party to it (and that became official two decades later).

[@lesdodoclips3915]

The french army vastly outnumbered the British one, they had larger and more numerous allies. The reason they cold t supply the colonies is due to the Royal Navy, it’s a testament to Britain’s navy more than anything.

[@thewhitedoncheadle8345]

you know nothin dan sneeuuu ;)

[@haraldisdead]

Pennsylvania woot woot

[@keithharker1319]

PITTSBURGHHHHH!!

[@jurijsoklic5026]

5:45 This map is completely wrong. Italy did not exist in 18th century. Also Ottoman's empire did not reach to todays border of Austria, ... And this is a history documentary.

[@Indigenous-English-Man]

Imagine if the ottomans had access to the North Atlantic Ocean. The Americans would have been a totally different place.

[@naqs9109]

WHO ELSE HYPED BECAUSE NOVA SCOTIA MADE IT TO TV LOL

[@tomcarlton8760]

Why didn’t the British use the Native American maps to navigate the St Lawrence?

[@lateve6243]

Kay-bec. Not Kway-bec.