Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was a battle fought between French and British soldiers on September 13, 1759. It was part of the French and Indian War, which was part of the Seven Years' War.
The battle took place on a plateau near the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec City, Canada. The plateau was on land once owned by a farmer named Abraham Martin and so the land is called the "Plains of Abraham." Each side had about 4500 troops in the battle. The French soldiers, led by Louis de Montcalm, wore blue uniforms. The British soldiers, led by James Wolfe, wore red uniforms. Both leaders were young men and died in the battle.
The French had a fort on the Plains of Abraham. Through rumors and spies, they knew the British were coming, but when the British arrived in June, the French were not prepared and did not have all their troops with them. Many of the French troops were not as well trained as the British troops. The British began a siege that lasted three months. On September 13, the French attacked, but the British held off the attack. Eventually, the British took control of the battle. The French surrendered on September 18.
The war continued in 1760, when the British took control of Montreal. New France was defeated, and Canada became controlled by the British, as was made official in the 1763 Treaty of Paris. In North America, however, France still controlled Louisiana, which never became part of the British Empire and became part of Spain.
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Battle Of The Plains Of Abraham Media
A portrait of Wolfe printed circa 1776
- The Defeat of the French Fireships attacking the British Fleet at Anchor before Quebec.jpg
French fire ships sent downriver to block the British advance, as shown in a copy of a painting by Dominic Serres
- Siege of Quebec.svg
Initial British landing, claiming the Point Levis and the unsuccessful attack on 31 August
- Plains2009.jpg
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham
- Fleuve Saint-Laurent a Quebec.jpg
Vaste panorama du fleuve St-Laurent embrassant la marina de Sillery jusqu'au Cap Diamant de Québec.
- Battle of the Plains of Abraham 1.svg
Landing of the British troops on 12 September
- NSRW Siege of Quebec.png
Map of the Quebec City area showing disposition of French and British forces. The Plains of Abraham are to the left.
- SLIPPING AND STUMBLING, THE MEN WENT ON.gif
The British under General Wolfe climbing the heights of Quebec, 1759
- Battle of the Plains of Abraham 2.svg
Schematic map of Battle of the Plains of Abraham on Sept. 13, 1759
- Montcalm leading his troops at the Plains of Abraham.jpg
Montcalm leading his troops into battle. Watercolour by Charles William Jefferys (1869–1951)
