Battle At The Plains Of Abraham Analysis

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The Battle at the Plains of Abraham between the British James Wolfe, and the French Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, was a pivotal moment in determining the future of Canada. As it was a turning point in the Seven Years’ War, the key players are frequently scrutinized by historians seeking to understand the after-effects and consequences of their actions. Despite his victory, Wolfe is still highly criticized for his ‘risky’ and ‘careless’ actions, arguably owing his victory to sheer luck. Alternatively, Montcalm is critiqued for his tactical errors during the battle, and his distraction by feuds with New France’s governor, Vaudreuil. There are numerous factors that need to be taken into consideration when evaluating what led to the outcome of the …show more content…
New France’s security was consequentially placed in jeopardy – being open to attack on new fronts; both up and down the St. Lawrence River where Louisbourg and Oswego previously offered protection, as well as from the British colonies to the south. New France was in a much more vulnerable position, encircled by British forces, and France’s inability to guarantee backup support heightened the fears of the British capturing the colony. Many sources note that Montcalm himself believed his colony would inevitably be defeated because of France’s failure to provide support. Additionally, the absent support caused many New French to feel abandoned and consequently, to no longer feel bound by honour to defend their colony on behalf of their mother country. The supply shortage caused Montcalm to rely on a variety of troops – both regular forces as well as Canadien and aboriginal militia. The militia were men residing in the colonies (both Canadien and aboriginal) who were physically able to fight – although often they had poor or no training at all for combat. Unlike the British force, Montcalm’s army was less trained and inefficient when it came to battle, and military tactics were not effectively implemented to the same extent as the …show more content…
However, Montcalm had made any progress extremely difficult. He fortified the riverbanks closely, allowing his troops to move quickly between locations [how do fortifications speed people up?], and making it difficult for the British to attack unnoticed. Wolfe resorted to a new campaign, ‘Skirmishing Cruelty and Devastation.’ In this, the British bombarded the city and ransacked several surrounding colonies in an attempt to draw Montcalm out for battle. Wolfe’s actions in New France in the months leading up to the Plains of Abraham demonstrate the tenacity and strength of his troops. Several actions were undertaken to cut off supplies to the French, such as blocking roadways into Quebec and capturing Niagara – both which halted the resource flow from the west. It was clear that the British were progressively encircling the French, which leads some to question whether it was only a matter of time before the French surrendered. Several historians argue that even if Wolfe had been defeated in this battle, New France would not have remained under French control. Wolfe’s superior, General Jeffrey Amherst, had been planning a larger force to attack Montreal the following year, and it is likely that he would have had the resources and power to defeat Montcalm. Eventual British conquest of Quebec was likely, but the outcome at the Plains of Abraham was contingent on the actions of both Wolfe and
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