Did the French in Quebec aid Americans during the American Revolution?

gtho4

No, they didn't didn't aid the U.S colonies in the American Revolutionary War. Why Didn't Canada Join The American Revolution? Friday, July 1, 2011 In 1775 Canada was Quebec plus the much smaller maritime province of Nova Scotia. There was a huge British naval base in Halifax and it was so powerful, and loyal to Britain, that there was never any question of them joining the American Revolution. So that just left Quebec as in 1775 there was no such place as Ontario. That area was still part of French Canada and had a small population of fur trappers and Indians. In 1774, fearful that the French-speaking population of Quebec would side with the rebels of the Thirteen Colonies to the south, the British Parliament in London adopted the Quebec Act, 1774 which implied the right to the French language, and confirmed the right to the Roman Catholic religion and the right of the Catholic Church and the Seigneurs to impose taxes. The purpose of the Act was to encourage the "Canadiens" not to join the looming American revolt. The act, designed to placate one North American colony, had the opposite effect among its neighbors to the south. The Quebec Act was among the Intolerable Acts that infuriated American colonists. So much so that George Washington of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia sent an army under Major General Richard Montgomery, which invaded and captured the city of Montreal. Delegates Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll and John Carroll were sent to Montreal by General Washington, but failed to convince Quebec to join the American Revolution. Instead, Quebec Governor Guy Carleton who had escaped to Quebec City began preparing for an attack. That attack came on December 31, 1775. General Montgomery attacked from the west and General Benedict Arnold from the east. Both American armies were repulsed in heavy fighting in cold weather and retreated. Montgomery was killed and his body was found under the snow next spring. He was buried in Quebec City. A monument was erected to Montgomery in 1777 on the porch of St. Paul's Church, Broadway (near the former World Trade Center) by Act of Congress of January 25, 1776. In the summer of 1776, the American armies withdrew from Montreal and Canada, when the British Fleet came up the St. Lawrence River. Benedict Arnold presided over the rear of the Continental Army during its retreat from Quebec, where he was reported to be the last person to leave before the British arrived. He then directed the construction of a fleet to defend Lake Champlain, where he was defeated in the October 1776 Battle of Valcour Island. The rest as we know is history as the American Revolution succeeded in overthrowing the British and establishing the United States of America. http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/why-didnt-canada-join-american.html Dec 04 12, 7:33 AM