The Americans fail to capture Québec City
Map of the American blockade of Québec City. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, gm71000971
1775 to 1776
At the beginning of the American Revolution, American rebels decided to send an army to conquer Canada. An invasion was planned along two routes — the first through Lake Champlain under General Richard Montgomery and the second through Maine under General Benedict Arnold. The Americans were able to occupy Montréal, but the march to Québec City in the dead of winter left the troops weakened. On December 31, 1775, they stormed the city but were defeated. Montgomery died during the attack. Arnold maintained an ineffective siege during the rest of the winter, only to be driven out by British reinforcements in the spring.
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