Watch The Battle for North America | Part Two

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 2 of 2.

#DanSnow #HistoryHit #BattleForNorthAmerica

[tim]

Dan Snow has recreated the best of the history docs the BBC used to put out on primetime slots.

[history_by_lamplight]

This is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen on the Seven Years' War! Great job! :)

[twstf]

The transitions, between maps and landscapes, is really helpful. You can really get a mental image of everything he's talking about, the battle. 👍

[Maya_Ruinz]

I'm baffled this channel doesn't have more subs, the stories are brilliantly presented and told and covers history you never get to hear about in school. Great stuff all around!

[squared]

It’s insane how great this is you really get a sense of scale of the conflict as well as learning useful tidbits ( that are especially useful for an upcoming exam )
Good stuff!

[fergusmallon]

This is a fabulous, much needed documentary. Canadian history as presented in schools is dull and boring, filled with acts and such that bring about revolutionary changes with only the rare flashes of excitement but the Plains of Abraham stands out as a major apex in North American history. In Canadian history, prior to the battle, the French were viewed as the good guys fending off fiendish British along the Mohawk valley, encroaching in Hudson's Bay, Frontenac answering Sir William Phipps with the mouths of his canon. Then suddenly the British become the good guys and the French become a mere problem of what to do with them and how do we deal with America. Canada has become one of the great nations of the world in the shadow of the US and I love it. I love the french fact. They have so enriched this country culturally and to our credit, they thrive and make Canada one of the great French language countries of the world. The French did not go away but remain, in a way, undefeated

[nicolawebb]

Having come back from Quebec City today this does a fantastic job of fleshing out the story and landscape

[_x]

Dan Snow is my new favorite historian, been binging all his stuff here lately. Keep up the good work!

[jang]

Thank you for this video. I was given the bare bones of this at school, but this has given me so much detailed information. Again thank you!

[TaleOfTwoIdiots]

You just made a History Hit sale, Dan. Great video.

[aminbazdeep]

Thanks Dan, excellent, as usual. Added to the long list of your great stuff.

[dannydm]

how this doesn't have 30 million views is beyond me

[ianmarsden]

What a great piece of work. Thank you very much.

[ospreycove]

Enjoyed that very much! Would like to see more Canadian content.

[michaelbevan]

Part 1 and part2 watched, enjoyed this massively.

[geoffburrill]

Fascinating. Didn't know anything about this war, it isn't tought in British schools.

[geoffreypereira]

The US colonies didn't rebel because they no longer "feared" Canada. One of the first things they did in the war was try and enlist it as the 14th colony. They took Montreal and then failed to take Quebec. Washington wrote an appeal to Canada to throw off the British yoke, 1, 000 Canadiens enlisted in the Continental army and served through the war, though most chose loyalty to Britain.

The taxes angered the American colonies because thousands of New Englanders had fought for the Crown in this war, hundreds were casualties. Their reward? Tax laws that they had no say in passing. When they asked for representation in Parliament, they were told "no."

[Indigenous-English-Man]

The band played the Grenadiers March the men tuck off in a mad and wild charge. Anyone who’s heard the grenadiers march will understand 🇬🇧✝️

[mdkramster]

Excellent docu. Taught me something. Thank you very much.

[rpm]

Bravo,
I remember well when you and your father first did a series on the campaign.