Canada and the American Revolution

The American Revolution (1775–83) was a rebellion of 13 British colonies along the eastern seaboard of North America. The revolutionaries attempted to gain support from colonists in Quebec and Nova Scotia but were unsuccessful. In 1775, rebel armies invaded Canada, occupying Montreal and attacking Quebec City, but they withdrew the following year. American privateers also raided Atlantic ports, and revolutionary sympathizers in Nova Scotia attempted a rebellion in that colony.

The American Revolution greatly influenced the future of Canada. Tens of thousands of Loyalists, including Black Loyalists, fled the United States and settled in British North America. This led to the creation of Upper Canada and New Brunswick. Britain’s Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) allies also lost territory when their lands were ceded to the United States at the end of the war. Many resettled along the Grand River or the Bay of Quinte.

This collection brings together resources in The Canadian Encyclopedia related to Canada and the American Revolution.