I will argue here that, in judging Canada’s past, which Quebec nationalist circles reproach for conquest and assimilation, one must consider the tragic nature of universal history. It is only recently, during the 20th century, that conquest war was outlawed in international law. In our case, it is fortunate for the French-Canadian population that the conquest transferred them from the French regime to the British regime rather than from the French regime to the domination of the New England settlers. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementIf France had won the war on the European stage, Great Britain might have been forced to cede its conquests in America. This is how France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States became more homogeneous as they modernized.

Source: National Post January 29, 2026 11:40 UTC