Stéphane Dion: How the Conquest of New France Paved the Way for Canadian Cooperation
Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech at the Citadel of Quebec has sparked significant controversy, providing a valuable opportunity to reflect on what makes Canada's history unique and even exceptional. In examining Canada's past, which some Quebec nationalist circles criticize for conquest and assimilation, we must consider the broader context of universal history's tragic nature.
Understanding Conquest in Historical Context
If we were to consider all countries born from past conquests as illegitimate and seek to undo them, we would turn the planet upside down. It's crucial to remember that conquest war was only outlawed in international law during the 20th century, making historical judgments more complex than they might initially appear.
In the Canadian context, the conquest of New France transferred the French-Canadian population from French to British rule rather than to the domination of New England settlers. This distinction proved significant for the survival and eventual flourishing of French culture in North America.
The Alternative Path: New England Settlers
The New England settlers had lived for a century and a half under the visceral fear of attacks from New France. Had they gained control over the French-Canadian population, they likely would have been vengeful and fierce toward a people they had long dreaded, now finally at their mercy.
Instead, French Canadians established decent relations with the first British governors, particularly Murray and Carleton, who treated them better—or at least less badly—than they had been treated under the French regime. This was especially true following the misdeeds of Intendant Bigot, whose corruption had plagued the final years of French rule.
Legal Protections and Their Consequences
The preservation of French-Canadian religion and customs, as provided in the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Quebec Act of 1774, actually enraged the New England settlers. They viewed the accommodating treatment granted to these "papists" of the long-hated former New France as one of their grievances that led to rebellion against the British crown.
It's important to note that what occurred was less a traditional conquest than a cession following a war whose outcome was largely decided on another continent. The military dynamics of the conflict reveal a more nuanced picture than simple conquest narratives suggest.
Military Realities and European Politics
Montcalm, his French troops, and his French-Canadian and Indigenous militias accomplished what the French crown expected of them: keeping as many British troops as possible tied up on the American continent for as long as possible. Even if Montcalm had managed to drive Wolfe back on the Plains of Abraham, Montreal would likely have been taken the following year given the disproportionate forces between the belligerents.
The numbers tell a compelling story: Amherst arrived with 20,000 troops, while Lévis had only 2,000 to oppose him. The British colonies boasted 1.6 million inhabitants compared to just 70,000 for all of New France, creating an overwhelming demographic and military imbalance.
The European Theater's Influence
Had France won the war on the European stage, Great Britain might have been forced to cede its conquests in America. One crucial factor in France's failure was the unexpected death of its ally, Russia's Tsarina Elizabeth I, in 1761. This event led to a dramatic reversal of alliances, saved the King of Prussia from probable defeat, and forced France and Austria to seek peace negotiations from a position of weakness.
This broader European context reminds us that the fate of New France was determined not just by events in North America but by complex international politics spanning continents.
Mark Carney was right to describe Canada as choosing a different path—one that emerged from these historical circumstances to create a nation where cooperation eventually triumphed over conquest, where accommodation replaced assimilation, and where diverse peoples found ways to build a shared future despite a difficult past.
