New Realities

The French and Indian War, known as the Seven Years War elsewhere, decided the fate of the North American continent. The British won a decisive victory at Quebec City in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Both commanding generals, Wolfe and Montcalm, seen here in paintings, died of their wounds at the battle. It would bring to an end the era of New France.

This cloak belonged to Wolfe.

With the French vanquished from their former holdings, the British took to governing their new acquisitions. But in time they would understand that accomodation of the French speaking population, as well as the indigenous peoples who had been allied to the French, was a better way to move forward.

This illustration is A View Of The Basin of Quebec, by James Hunter.

Personal items are found here- belonging to James Thompson, a veteran of the French and Indian War who thrived in the new order of things, becoming adopted by the Anishinabe, and marrying a woman of French Canadian roots.

The book seen here is The History of Emily Montague, the first Canadian novel, written by Frances Brooke, wife of a military chaplain.

This painting of her was done by Catherine Read around 1771.

The American Revolution, and then the War of 1812 would see invasion by Americans, especially in the latter. Canadian militia would join British regulars and Indigenous warriors to repel the Americans time and time again.

These are Huron-Wendat style clothing. The vest was made in that style, but for a British aristocrat.

The capot was a Canadian hooded overcoat that became well used throughout the 1800s.