With the fall of France’s colonies in North America, the English colonies found themselves free from the looming threat of French aggression, and with that newfound freedom came a desire for greater autonomy. The British Parliament, however, saw the colonies as subjects to be governed and taxed, and the issue of taxation without representation soon sparked open defiance. The rift between Britain and its colonies deepened, leading to violent confrontations and the eventual outbreak of the American Revolution.
As the Continental Congress rallied the 13 colonies, they looked north to Quebec and Nova Scotia, hoping to draw them into the rebellion. Despite invitations, these northern colonies remained loyal to Britain. The Americans then launched an invasion of Quebec, but their efforts failed, with British troops consolidating in Halifax. This failure helped solidify the division between the rebellious colonies and British North America, a division that foreshadowed the future U.S.-Canadian border. The Revolution, while birthing a new nation to the south, ensured that the loyal colonies to the north would follow a different path, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Canada.
