All language subtitles for Butterfly.Effect.S02E09_English

- [Narrator] New York, August
15th 1914, First World War.

The fourth fleet, pride
of the royal navy,

has just weighed anchor.

In a few weeks, the
expeditionary force

of the 13 colonies
will land in Europe,

ready to defend the
motherland, the British
Empire.

In the 20th century, the
United Kingdom is a great

colonial power from
America to Asia,

the Union Jack flies
over every continent.

During the last century, she
created the vastest empire

in the history of humanity.

The huge statue of her
majesty, Queen Victoria,

stands triumphant at the
entrance to New York bay,

reminding all of the power
of the British Crown.

But none of this ever happened.

In 1759, a tiny grain
of sand will decide

the fate of New France and
change the face of the world.

Our history is no more than a
series of incredible events.

Every one of us can
influence it's course.

(upbeat music)

The most infinitesimal
of our decisions

can influence the
future of humanity.

To know the past is
to foresee the future.

July 1534, Jacques
Cartier, a French explorer,

has just made contact
with the Amerindians

in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

May 28th 1754,
George Washington, a
British militia man,

carries out a surprise attack

on a French embassy
in the Ohio Valley.

September 18th 1759, at
the end of a long siege,

Quebec, capital of New France,

falls into the hands
of the British Crown.

These three events
are key moments

in the history of New France.

They will lead to the
creation of Canada.

Newfoundland, viking encampment.

The colony has just
survived its first winter.

We are 500 years before
Christopher Columbus' voyage,

and the Scandinavian explorers
are the first Europeans

to set foot on the
continent of North America.

A land of abundance,

roaming with mighty herds
of bison and caribou,

covered as far as the eye
can see with vast forests,

criss-crossed by rivers
teaming with fish and beaver,

the north of
America suffers from

extreme climate conditions.

Winter lasts five months,

and temperatures can drop to
lower than minus 40 degrees.

And yet, in the 16th century,

daring adventurers will set
out to explore its coasts,

and then its interior.

May 10th 1534, French
explorer Jacques Cartier

arrives within sight of the
great island of Newfoundland

for his first expedition
in the name of Francois I,

king of France.

During his voyages, he will
first explore the coasts,

and then venture up one of the
greatest rivers of the world,

the Saint Lawrence.

But, although he was one
of the first Europeans

to explore these territories,

he is far from being the
first man to set foot there.

For over 10,000 years,

the Amerindians have
inhabited the continent.

They are then some
hundreds of thousands

divided into tribes,
nations, and confederations.

In contrast to the
Spanish conquistadors

with the Aztecs a
few years earlier,

relations between the French

and the Natives will
remain generally amicable.

This peaceful entente
is the keystone

of the future French colony,

and is unique in the
history of America.

What's more, from
hearing the Natives

constantly inviting
him to their village,

which they call Kanata,

Cartier decides to use the
word to name the region.

This is first appearance
of the word Canada.

Trade is rapidly established
between Amerindians

and Europeans, beaver belts
for rifles, clothing, or
pots.

The trappers camps gradually
turn into small trading posts.

Colonists begin to
settle permanently,

but living conditions are
testing for the French,

accustomed to a gentler climate.

Two out of every three
colonists give up

and return to France
after the first winter.

The others adapt, they are now
no longer completely French,

they become Canadians.

July third, 1608.

After several
disastrous attempts,

the embryo of a city
rises from the earth

on the banks of the
Saint Lawrence river.

This spot, a
strategic one because

located on the main
trading route for skins,

and at the precise point
where the river narrows,

is well known to the Natives.

They call it Quebec.

- [Narrator] Welcome to
the memory of humanity.

Here, we can control time,

analyze and compare
billions of events,

and alter them to rewrite
history endlessly.

All the events in our history,
however minute they might be,

are memorized and
interconnected.

It only requires
one to be changed

for all the other to be
shaken to their core.

For example, let's go
back to the 17th century

and compare the Amerindian
and European ways of life.

In both cases, the
peoples are heirs

to a culture thousands
of years old.

Linguistic differences between
the Huron of the Great Lakes

and the Micmac of
the Saint Lawrence

are as great as those between
the English and the Germans,

and the same applies to their
cultures and eating habits.

As in Europe, the Amerindian
nations forge alliances,

and frequently go to war.

However, Amerindian societies
are more egalitarian,

social and community
life, collective property,

and equality between all,

regardless of age,
sex, or filiation.

We are a long way from the
caricature of the noble
savage.

- [Narrator] Early 18th century.

In a century of living
together, the French Canadians

have learned a lot
from the Amerindians.

The colonists have made
ever deeper inroads

into the country, mainly
using the river network.

They are now called runners
of the woods, they are hearty,

and can run for hours
over hill and forest,

are sharp shooters, often
speak several Native languages,

and marry with the Natives.

They will map almost half of
the North American continent,

giving the regions
they pass through

the names of the
tribes who live there.

Ohio, Missouri,
Illinois, or Wisconsin.

A century after it was founded,

the tiny trading post of
Quebec is now a city of 9,000.

It has been through tough times,

extraordinarily harsh
winters, famine,

and war with the Iroquois.

Along with Montreal
and Louisbourg,

Quebec is one of
the principal cities

of the royal colony
of New France.

But, for the Crown,
Canada costs a lot,

and brings in little.

Under Louis XV, the more
profitable sugar islands

of the Caribbean
take preference.

Furthermore, the colony is
ice bound half of the year,

which interrupts trade,

and makes it complicated
to provision.

In the metropole,
the future of these

few acres of snow is far
from being a priority.

For the United Kingdom,
it's quite the opposite.

Great Britain is an island.

In order to grow, it is
forced to look outwards.

Very quickly, an imperialist
policy is born in London,

British possessions in America
are not merely trading posts,

they are above all new
territories to occupy,

exploit, and defend.

And that is how, in
the 17th century,

waves of colonists
founded New England,

setting out with their
possessions and their
families,

they have no intention
of returning.

Driven from England by
religious persecution,

they are carried along
by the conviction

that they must establish
a purer society.

Henceforth, the Amerindians,
regarded as an embarrassment,

are fought and driven out.

In 1750, the 13 British
colonies have more

than a million inhabitants,
and they are expanding fast.

The French Canadians
are barely 17,000,

on a territory at least
five times greater.

Between dynamic British colonies

and underpopulated
Franco-Amerindian territories,

competition is more
present than ever.

- [Narrator] Adapt or disappear.

In America, the English
colonists import

their way of working, and
impose it on the Amerindians.

The French, in minority, and
in a hostile environment,

adapt and treat them as equals.

They know that the
survival of their country

depends on their relations
with their allies.

Rather than fight a pitched
battle, costly in men,

they prefer the skirmish,
ambushes, raids,

stealthy movement and
fighting in the forest.

The Canadians call
it little war,

a sort of guerrilla
warfare, and it's a hunt,

a man hunt, move from tree
to tree to remain covered,

shoot only when sure
of hitting your target,

only emerge from hiding to fire,

and then attack hand to hand.

The British army, however,

had conserved its
fighting tactics,

but it does have an
ace, its discipline.

In a fixed battle, it is
able to fire continuously.

One line of soldiers fires
while
the preceding line reloads.

Guerrilla against fire power,

it's the same plan as that
adopted by the Afghan Mujahideen

against the Soviet army
in the 20th century.

- [Narrator] May 28th 1754.

This day marks the
end of the status quo.

British militia men carry
out a surprise attack

on a French embassy.

Leading them is the
young George Washington,

the future first president of
the United States of America.

The execution of the
French ambassador

is the declaration of
a war that will impact

on every continent,
the Seven Years War.

France and England, the two
great powers of the period,

will confront each
other on land and sea,

in Europe and in their colonies.

From the beginning, England
plays its trump card,

the Royal Navy deploys across
the ocean, it's mission,

destroy the French
Navy, block her ports,

preventing her from getting
aid to her colonies.

In short, paralyze the realm.

The navy, with
fearsome efficiency,

manages to cut
off France's arms.

The French colonies are now
left to their own devices.

In New France, it looks
to be a difficult fight.

Canada is then governed by
the Marquis of Vaudreuil,

a Canadian, born in Quebec,
he favors the little war.

For two years, militia and
Amerindians have inflicted

defeat after defeat
on the English troops.

The French as masters
of the terrain,

but now he has to work
with the commander

of the Royal Armies,
the Marquis of Montcalm,

recently arrived from France.

The latter, enjoying the same

hierarchical level as Vaudreuil,

has no taste for this
inglorious form of warfare,

but he quickly learns
to use it effectively.

The combined force
of the regular troops

and the Canadian militia
is a redoubtable one.

The English forts fall
to the French shelling

while their patrols
walk into ambushes

set by the Canadian militia.

From the banks of the Hudson

to the snow covered
slopes of Lake Champlain,

the English troops are shoved
and harassed from all sides.

But on the seas, the
Royal Navy rules supreme.

On July 27th 1758,
Louisbourg, key to New France,

falls into the hands
of the English.

French reinforcements
are arriving only
in dribs and drabs,

whereas the British troops
are increasingly numerous.

The fight is close.

Montcalm knows that he will
finally be overwhelmed,

and begs for reinforcements,

but France is also fighting
battles on the continent,

no one will come to the
rescue of New France.

On June fourth, 1759, a
formidable fleet of English

war ships leaves Louisbourg
and heads for Quebec.

On board are nearly
2,000 cannon,

and 22,000 soldiers and seamen.

The battle for Quebec
is about to begin.

- [Narrator]
Control of the seas.

During the conflict, the
Royal Navy is everywhere

and wins almost all its battles.

It's superiority is crushing,
sailing powerful vessels

with two or three decks armed
with batteries of cannon,

it controls the oceans.

The key to its success lies
in its iron discipline,

constant training, and
effective logistics.

Whereas the French sailors
only put to sea to do battle,

the English are almost
constantly at sea, training.

In the same space of time,
their crews manage to fire

three rounds of cannon to a
single one from the French.

Whereas in France, ship's
captain is often regarded

as a mere title, the British
captains are promoted on
merit,

are effective and
hardened by naval combat.

The spirit of
initiative, daring,

and speed are the keystones
to the Royal Navy.

It's motto: if you want
peace, prepare for war.

In our day, its only
equivalent would be

the military supremacy
of the United States,

the only country
capable of delivering

considerable firepower to
the far side of the globe.

- [Narrator] Quebec, early 1759.

The French commanders
don't agree.

Governor Vaudreuil wants to
defend the entire territory,

military commander Montcalm
considers it to be lost,

and withdraws the majority
of his troops to Quebec.

He has 15,000 men
under his orders.

The fight is still
far from lost,

especially as navigation
on the Saint Lawrence

is almost impossible for those
who don't know the river.

But, aboard the
British flagship,

General James Wolfe
holds a crucial ace,

highly accurate
French marine charts.

On June 26, against
all expectations,

the English warships
sail past Orleans island

and into sight of Quebec.

The city is immediately
besieged, the French troops,

having vainly attempted to
set fire to the enemy ships,

entrench in their positions.

On the 29th, the English step
ashore on the opposite bank.

Cannons are set up in a battery,

and soon begin to
pound the city.

Mid-July, a part of the
British fleet braves

the French cannons
and moves up river.

The city is now
exposed on two fronts.

By the end of July, Wolfe
launches a massive attack,

but the English troops
suffer heavy losses.

The general now
adopts a new strategy,

he sends his rangers to
ravage the hinterland.

1,400 farms are
destroyed and burned,

but the city, protected by
its cliffs and its cannons,

still does not surrender.

Wolfe has already lost
many men, more seriously,

winter's approaching,

and his fleet risks
becoming trapped in the ice.

He decides to risk everything.

During the night
of September 12th,

after foiling the
French centuries,

he secretly disembarks
a part of his troops

to the west of the city.

Reputedly impassable,

the steep relief is
Quebec's best defense.

Disciplined and professional,

the British soldiers begin
the assault on the cliff.

Overthrowing the French
defenses, they gain a foothold

on the summit and immediately
form a battle line.

Wolfe knows his
position is precarious,

just one vigorous
French counter attack

could destroy him and his men.

But the French fail to
seize their opportunity.

When Montcalm finally
arrives to face the British

on the place known as
the Plains of Abraham,

they are ready to
fight, muskets loaded.

They are a mere few thousand,

while Montcalm disposes
of many more troops,

but half of his men
are more used to

skirmishing than
to pitched battle.

Large numbers of French
reinforcements are on the way,

he only needs to wait a few
hours to be sure of victory.

This is when Montcalm
takes a crucial decision.

Anxious to see the enemy
consolidate his positions,

he decides not to wait any
longer and launches the
attack.

The English line,
impassable, holds firm.

Even when the first French
bullets hit their ranks,

his Majesty's
soldiers remain calm.

They wait 'til the
French, in disorder,

come within range, 'til their
muskets have been fired,

then, as one man, they
aim and unleash hell.

The volley is devastating,

the French soldiers are
cut down by a hail of lead.

In a few minutes, the fate
of the battle is sealed,

the French line collapses,
the regulars beat a retreat.

From the woods, the
Canadian militia

riddle the British
troops with lead

and wreak havoc,
but to no purpose.

Two hours later,
the battle is lost.

- [Narrator] We have just
reached a turning point.

A turning point is a key event,

a cross roads in our history,

where the world swings
one way or the other.

By prematurely attacking a
troop of disciplined
soldiers,

Montcalm is heading for failure.

Demoralized, the
inhabitants of Quebec

surrender to the English troops.

What would've happened if he
had waited for reinforcement?

If he had held the line

and ordered his militia to
harass the enemy soldiers?

Once the reinforcements
had arrived,

he could've defeated the
British and saved the city.

Waging the little war, New
France would've continued,

and would've retained
part of its territory

until the end of
the war in Europe.

With the French enemy still
present on its borders,

the English American
colonies would've probably

not have sought
their independence,

and would've remained
loyal to the Crown.

North America would've
remained a territory

shared by British and French,

maybe even up until the
dawn of the First World War.

- [Narrator] The
outcome of the battle

of the Plains of Abraham
was settled within minutes.

The leaders of both
camps, mortally
wounded, do not survive.

Five days later, the city
of Quebec surrenders.

The Canadians, cut off
from the kingdom of France,

unable to provision them,
will fight on for a few
months

with the energy of despair.

But every British soldier killed

is immediately
replaced by two others.

The Royal Navy is everywhere.

After supporting
them to the end,

the last of the Amerindian
allies abandon the French,

inescapable victims
of a war already lost.

On September eighth, 1760,

the capitulation of Montreal
marks the end of New France.

The Seven Years War is
a disaster for France,

which loses a large
part of her colonies,

including all of her
possessions in North America.

When signing the Treaty
of Paris in 1763,

French diplomats prefer
to save their islands

in the Caribbean
rather than the vast,

icebound territories of Canada.

The Canadians become
British subjects,

as a result, they must speak
English and become Protestants.

The Amerindians,
deprived of their allies,

now trade with the English.

A century later,
the United Kingdom,

the big winner, will become
an immense colonial empire,

the greatest in the entire
history of humanity.

The 19th century
will be British,

the English language will
become
universal, but ironically,

the end of a French
presence in North America

leaves the 13 English
colonies with no enemies.

A few years later,
weighed down with taxes,

the colonists will no longer see

any interest in
British sovereignty,

and will fight for
their independence.

The French, eager for revenge,

will crush the British
fleet in the Chesapeake Bay,

and win the war at the side of
the American revolutionaries.

Without her, United States
would never have seen

the light of day, but
that is another story.

- [Narrator] The world's
face has changed.

The Seven Years War is the first

conflict with global impact.

All the European
powers took part,

involving their
respective colonies,

the conflict spread
across the world.

At the end of the war,
the cards are dealt again.

By losing Canada, France
leaves the field wide open.

The British exploit
the opportunity,

the Anglo-Saxon language

and culture gradually
imposes itself there.

Give or take 10 minutes, the
time for a few musket
follies,

and the opposite
could've happened.

Today, Canada is a
flourishing,
multicultural nation.

At first marginalized,

the French community is
now perfectly integrated,

and is a full part
of the nation.

First Amerindian, then
French, and finally English,

the inhabitants of Canada
have learned to live together,

a blend of three cultures,

they have been able to
create their own identity.

They have become Canadians.

(epic action music)