The End of the French Regime

* The French and English have been rivals since the middle ages * Throughout the French Regime there were battles between these two countries and their Amerindian Allies * In order to maintain their Allies’ numbers the French Government had 40 Algonkian tribes sign the Great Peace of Montreal in 1701 * This Treaty allowed the French government to arbitrate conflicts and kept the Algonkians from fighting each other

* Small raids between New France and the 13 colonies * French captured British towns and forts * They were returned after the war in the Treaty of Ryswick

* Raids between New France and the 13 colonies * Britain Captured Port Royal (Nova Scotia) * 1713 Treaty of Utrecht ends war and ends encirclement because the 13 colonies receives Acadia, Newfoundland and Hudson bay * Followed by a cold war called the 30 years of uneasy peace and is an era of fort building

* Between New France and the 13 colonies * England captures Louisbourg * Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle ends war and returns Louisbourg to the French * The return of Louisbourg upsets the 13 colonies and is one of the factors leading to the American Revolution * 6000 Acadians are forcibly deported by the British in preparation of the final battle between the French and British in North America

* Know as the Seven Years War or the War of Conquest * It is the Final battle of the French and English in North America * This war was not just fought here but everywhere England and France had colonies as well as in Europe * This war was fought on all 7 seas of the world

* There were several reasons why the French were defeated by the British in North America: * New France had a vast territory but a small population to defend it. * Britain's navy was stronger and bigger and they could prevent supply ships from reaching New France. * New France had 5000 soldiers compared to 23,000 soldiers in the 13 Colonies. * The population of the 13 Colonies was about 1.5 million in 1760; that of New France was about 70,000. * The 13 Colonies has a stronger, more diversified economy than New France. New France was too reliant on France because of mercantilism. * France was preoccupied with war in Europe and could not afford to send much help.

* On September 13, 1759 the English and French forces met on the Plains of Abraham. After a brief but bitter struggle, in which both Montcalm and Wolfe were killed, Quebec fell to the British * With the defeat of the French, at Sainte-Foy and Montréal in 1760, New France was conquered and came under British rule. * Military Rule was maintained * Officially ended with the Signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763

* The Articles of Capitulation outlined the terms under which the French and the Canadiens surrendered to the British in Montreal in * The articles were binding until a formal peace was concluded between Britain and France who were still at war in Europe. * While waiting for the Seven Years' War to come to an end, British military government was maintained in the colony, between 1760 and 1763, to facilitate its administration and to maintain order. * British military rule did not interfere with the laws, religion and language. The Seigneurial system and the captains of militia were retained. * This leads to problems when the British try to change the rules in the Royal Proclamation 1763

The Capitulation stated that: * The French had to lay down their arms. * New France's territory was now under British military rule. * Those who wished to return to France were allowed to do so. The elite of the colony (government administrators, army officers, and some merchants) took advantage of this offer and left. The Canadiens (artisans, peasants, clergy) stayed. * The French, worried about what happened to the Acadians, were promised they would not be deported * The people of New France were allowed the freedom to practice their Roman Catholic religion.

* It ended the Seven Years' War. * France gave up its territories in North America except the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. * The French maintained the right to practise the Catholic religion as far as British laws permit