History of Europe

What might have happened if the french ships had arrived in Quebec 1759 ahead of British ships?

The British victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham would not have been possible.

Without the British victory, the French would have been able to maintain control of Canada, and the course of North American history would have been significantly altered.

Here are some of the potential consequences:

1. The American Revolution might not have occurred.

The French victory in Canada would have bolstered French power in North America, making it less likely that the American colonists would have successfully rebelled against British rule. The British would have had a stronger military presence in the colonies, and the French would have been less likely to provide support to the American cause.

2. The United States would have been smaller.

The French controlled a much larger territory in North America than the British did, and if they had maintained control of Canada, the United States would have been much smaller. The US may have been limited to the area east of the Appalachian Mountains, and the French would have controlled the vast majority of the land to the west.

3. Native American tribes would have been in a stronger position.

The Native American tribes were allied with the French during the French and Indian War, and they would have been in a stronger position if the French had won. The British would have had a more difficult time subduing the Native American tribes, and they may have been able to maintain their independence for a longer period of time.

4. The development of the United States would have been different.

If the United States had been smaller and weaker, the development of the country would have been different. The United States might have been more closely aligned with France, and the country's culture and institutions would have been shaped by French influence.

5. The global balance of power would have been different.

The French victory in Canada would have shifted the balance of power in Europe and around the world. The French would have been much stronger, and the British would have been weaker. This could have led to a new round of wars in Europe, and the future of the world would have been very different.