V7 Conquest

Lecture Overview

  • Topic: The Conquest of New France

  • Date: Lecture 7

  • Themes:

    • Examining the significance of the events during the conquest

    • Understanding the context of the first world war concept

    • Analysis of France's geopolitical position

    • The profound changes resulting from the conquest

Geographic Context

  • Size of the continent: 19,811,345 sq. km

  • Important to understand geographical implications for the conquest and subsequent territorial changes.

Historical Maps and Visuals

Battle Narratives

  • Page showcases a map that reproduces battle accounts from the 1760s.

British Military Action

  • A British map dated September 13, 1759, highlighting military actions during the conquest.

Artistic Representation

  • Benjamin West's Artwork: The Death of Wolfe (1770)

    • Depicts a significant moment during the conflict, illustrating the impact of the conquest on cultural memory.

Key Figures

  • Marquis de Montcalm: French commander during the conflict, ca. 1757.

Commemoration

  • A declaration relating to the burial of Marquis de Montcalm, emphasizing the significance of figures lost in the conquest.

Territorial Changes

Boundary Changes Post-Conquest

  • Prewar Boundaries (1754) vs. Postwar Boundaries (1763):

    • Canada and Quebec: Key areas shifted in control.

    • Establishment of the Proclamation Line of 1763 which left unceded lands to Indigenous peoples.

    • Territorial divisions after 1763 featured disputes between Great Britain and France regarding borders.

Consequences of the Conquest

  • Removed the greatest threat to British Atlantic colonies.

  • Introduced uncertainty and changed dynamics for Indigenous populations.

  • The Royal Proclamation of 1763: Left land not yet settled by Europeans for Indigenous occupants, showcasing an early recognition of Indigenous land rights.

  • The socio-political landscape of former New France (now Quebec) shifted, with some residents choosing to leave, while many opted to stay under British rule.

  • The Catholic Church retained its presence to provide stability amid the changing governance.