Question

How did the physical geography of the North America influence British strategy for reaching Quebec

Answer 1

Physical geography, particularly the freezing of the St. Lawrence River, critically influenced British strategy by isolating Quebec and forcing defenses with limited resources. The Americans attempted to capitalize on this but were hampered by the harsh winter and time constraints before British reinforcements could arrive.

Step-by-step explanation:

The physical geography of North America played a crucial role in shaping British military strategy during the attempts to reach and fortify Quebec. The freezing of the St. Lawrence River, a key waterway for transport and supply movement, created an isolated situation for the British forces stationed in Quebec. General Sir Guy Carleton, aware of the frozen river and the impossibility of receiving reinforcements, had no choice but to strengthen Quebec's defenses with the troops he had. Moreover, British successes in previous conflicts like the capture of Fort Louisbourg highlighted the importance of the North American theatre and the strategic value of controlling the waterways, as it hampered French abilities to resupply their forces downstream.

The attempted alliance with the French Canadians by Colonel Benedict Arnold, who planned to capture Quebec, was also influenced by the physical geography. Arnold perceived the isolated and resoundingly French Canadian population of Quebec as potential allies against the British. Unfortunately for Arnold and his force, the unyielding climate, with its winter freeze and limited timeframe before British reinforcements could arrive in spring, made their situation dire and ultimately led to their failure to take Quebec.

Answer 2

The British managed to gain control of much of the eastern part of North America, but they didn't managed to do so with what is now Quebec. There are two basic reasons for this, one being that the French got there first and established themselves, and the second one being the physical geography.

The fact that the French got first to Quebec is crucial, as the invading force that would rich this area first would have had big advantage when it came to preserving the territory. Quebec has excellent location when it comes to defense. The coastline is shallow, so it is not really suitable for large invading ships to come directly on the shore. Apart from the water being the first defensive line, the area around the coastline is either frozen in the colder part of the year, or marshy in the warmer part of the year. After that second defensive line comes the third one, which are the Laurentian Plateau and the northernmost part of the Appalachians.

All of these factors combined made it almost impossible for the British to be able to conquer Quebec from the French, and it was only after the French left this part that the British managed to gain control of it.