<P> In April 1760, in a final effort to reclaim Quebec City, the French army (now based in Montreal) launched an assault against the British at Sainte - Foy, just outside the walls of Quebec City . The battle, in sheer casualties, represented a French victory . Ultimately, however, the French were unable to retake Quebec City and forced to retreat to Montreal, where they would soon surrender . </P> <P> After the failed siege of Quebec, the British commanders were eager to bring the Conquest to a close . Thus, in September 1760, three British armies--led separately by James Murray, Brigadier William Havilland, and Major - General Jeffery Amherst--convened on the remaining French forces in Montreal . On 8 September 1760, to avoid another bloodbath, General Lévis and Governor General Pierre, Marquis de Vaudreuil - Cavagnal surrendered the entire French colony of Canada . Thus, with the capitulation of Montreal, the British had effectively won the war . The details of the Conquest, however, still had to be sorted out between England and France . In line with the Old World's "rules of war", Britain assured the 60,000 to 70,000 Francophone inhabitants freedom from deportation and from confiscation of property, freedom of religion, the right to migrate to France, and equal treatment in the fur trade . </P> <P> The final details were worked out between British and French diplomats in Europe, an ocean apart from the actual battlefields . In February 1763, The Treaty of Paris made the northern portion of New France (including Canada and some additional lands to the south and west) officially a British colony . Ultimately, Canada would be transferred over to the British without much protest . As I.K. Steele points out, the Conquest of Canada was only one part of the Seven Years' War, and France was willing to surrender Canada peacefully in exchange for their more profitable colonies in the West Indies, particularly Guadeloupe . In addition, the deal struck between France and England allowed France to retain the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Newfoundland, securing their access to the lucrative Atlantic fisheries . </P> <P> Britain's decision to retain Canada was the result of different strategic priorities . On the one hand, there was a need to appease the French, who--defeat in war notwithstanding--continued to present a major threat to British interests given their demographic advantage . This implied giving up either Canada or the French Caribbean islands . Ultimately, the decision was taken to forfeit the French sugar islands even though they were far more economically significant than the North American French colonies . This was in part because annexing the French Antilles would have been a blow to national pride that the French Monarchy would have been unable to accept, thus hampering the prospect of a rapid and mutually beneficial peace settlement . But more importantly, the retention of Canada was motivated by the argument that removing the French presence from North America would reinforce the security of Britain's Empire in the region . </P>

Why did the english migrate to british north america after the fall of new france