History Browser

As tension between the United States and Britain subsided, the forts at Lévis, built at such great cost, would never house a garrison and would never fire a shot in war. This web page covers the later history of the forts as military installations and their final transition to national historic sites.

This page is the starting point for more detailed military history information about Lévis Forts on other pages. It provides basic political and demographic information for the United Canada during the 1860s, plus some information for visiting this historical attraction.

This page explains that the political and military climate in North America forced the British to rethink their defensive strategy for Québec. Plans were made for a network of forts to protect vulnerable imperial interests along the St. Lawrence and inland toward the United States.

The defensive architecture of Fort no.1 is illustrated here with 5 coloured illustrations accompanied by short descriptions.

This is the introductory page to the history of Lévis Forts. A short historical overview is provided as are links and contact information.

The building of the forts at Lévis marked the end of a transition period in the art of fortifying a town. Advances in military technology and transportation made the defence of Québec all the more important to the British strategy.

Between 1858 and 1870, artillery developed from cast-iron muzzle-loading smoothbore guns (firing solid shot) to steel-barrelled breech-loading rifled guns (firing explosive shells). The new weapons fired faster, at longer ranges, with more accuracy, and did more damage.

Using the political turmoil of Europe and America as a backdrop, this web page explains why the British needed a system of defence on the south shore of Québec.

The construction of Fort No.1 during the 1860s saw the employment of new technological innovations and industrial processes.

In April 1865, the main Confederate army surrendered to the United States at Appomattox. Fears of an impending invasion went sky high in Canada, where work began immediately on new fortifications. In Britain, there was vocal opposition to spending money on an indefensible colony.