The Forgotten Push: America’s Failed Bid to Make Canada the 14th Colony

(SeaPRwire) –   By: Gavin Thorne

The story of America’s quest to absorb Canada into its new nation before full independence is a tale of overreach and miscalculation. In 1775, the first year of the American Revolutionary War, Britain’s North American holdings were far broader than just the 13 colonies. Canada was part of the British Empire, and the Quebec Act of 1774 had sought to integrate French and Indigenous populations. Yet, those in the 13 Colonies who called themselves “Friends of Liberty” eyed Canada as a way to create a union of 14 provinces. They penned patronizing letters to Quebec’s French inhabitants, explaining how the English government worked. The Congress acknowledged religious differences but claimed liberty could overcome them. They translated and distributed a thousand copies of the letter, but Quebec’s governor fumed it sowed doubt about British authority.

Then the invasion began. George Washington deemed Quebec an “easy prey.” Gen. Richard Montgomery led troops to take Montréal in November 1775. But December brought a fateful siege. A blizzard turned conditions horrific. Soldiers were half-starved and half-naked. Montgomery was killed within hours on Dec. 31, 1775. His men were left to fight, with many becoming prisoners of war. The attack on Quebec was a disaster. Icy cold, insufficient supplies, and smallpox ravaged troops. Canadians turned against the American cause. Diplomatic efforts by Benjamin Franklin failed. This failed attempt to conquer Canada showed the perils of overconfidence. It revealed the flaws in American planning and the importance of understanding local populations. Author bio: Gavin Thorne, investigative journalist focusing on historical political maneuvers and the blunders that shaped early American history.