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Canada! The Lesson of Louisbourg On the very northern coastline of Nova Scotia, on the Atlantic shore of Cape Breton Island, stands an impressive and unique memorial to the turbulent history of early Canada. It was 1713, before the nations of the United States or Canada had been founded, and France was reeling from defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession, or “Queen Anne’s War” to the English. The Treaty of Utrecht saw France lose claim to Newfoundland and all of Acadia, except for Île St. Jean (Prince Edward Island) and Île Royale (Cape Breton Island). The loss of Newfoundland threatened France with a loss of control over access to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and thus to the inland colonies of New France. On this stunningly beautiful shoreline, French seamen found an agreeable deep-water harbour. It likely acquired the name Havre-à-l’Anglais, “English Harbour,” because French fishermen saw the English fishing fleet using the harbour for shelter from the gales of the North Atlantic. French fishermen began to use this harbour to resupply and as a base for processing their catches. During the fishing season, several thousand French fishermen used the Havre-à-l’Anglais, and a prosperous community grew from the profits of the fishing industry. Just how important was the French fishing industry? The value of processed fish exported to France soon exceeded that of Canada’s lucrative fur trade conducted through settlements in Quebec. France was still recovering from crop failures that between 1693 and 1710 had seen more than two million French citizens die of famine-induced starvation. Add to this the
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Roman Catholic proscription against eating other meat on Fridays, and there was a huge demand for fish. Thus, the fishery was a high priority for government support. Bustling Port and Military Stronghold The French government was very interested in this new settlement, as it would provide control over access to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Thus, the new settlement became a military and naval base for the French Empire, named “Louisbourg” in honour of King Louis XIV. In 1720, Louisbourg was a bustling port, exporting tons of dried and salt fish and importing foodstuffs, clothing, tools, and other commodities for new colonists and local tradesmen. By 1725, ships came not only from France and Quebec, but also from the Caribbean. A vigorous trade was beginning with the English colonies in New England. The small commercial city also served as an administrative hub for the area. Development focused not only on the commercial center; Louis XV agreed to a plan to build Louisbourg into what would become the largest military fortification in North America. The fortress was 24 years under construction, designed by France’s best military engineers. The walls were 11 metres (33 feet) thick in some places and rose 9 metres (28 feet) above a surrounding entrenchment, facing the sea on three sides. The primary fortress had placements for 148 cannons. There were additional fortifications on the opposite side of Louisbourg harbour and on a nearby island that defended against a seaward approach. On the landward side of the fortress there were stout walls surrounded by marsh, thought to prevent any artillery from being placed within range.
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