In 1759, the struggle between France and Great Britain to control North America came to a head. That year, New France—a territory then covering almost two thirds of the continent—fell under British rule. The event took place on the Plains of Abraham in Québec City, where the armies of generals James Wolfe and Louis-Joseph de Montcalm skirmished on the morning of September 13. Though both generals died in battle, the British were victorious by the end of the confrontation. A chapter in history had come to an end. New France was no more, and its territory had become part of the British Empire.
Samuel S. Smith, after Benjamin West
This engraving depicts General James Wolfe’s death in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. A monument commemorating this moment now stands on the very spot. However, this statue reminding the French of their defeat did not always meet with unanimous approval in Québec City. The present-day monument was inaugurated on July 5, 1965, across from the Musée National des Beaux-arts de Québec.
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