I just found this thread, and it's as recent as September, so I'm going to play the not-quite-necromancy card.
At about the same time this thread was going on, I
had one about a balkanized *USA being caused by an early colonial victory. I was wondering just now if a victory at the Battle of Quebec might be a way to bring that about. Canada really would be the black sheep of the rebellious colonies, making unity less likely, and a major victory in a Francophone region could accelerate the entry of France into the war. Thoughts?
One wonder what will happens to the Métis peoples (unless they are butterflied away?)...
I am not sure Washington would be any nicer than London...
The Metis are originally descended from rogue fur traders who went beyond the legally sanctioned limits of the French crown and the Indian women who married them, so they already exist and are going to continue to unless assimilated or wiped out. They became concentrated in the Red River valley IIRC? So we could see a state or Canadien province called Metisia or somesuch, proud of its unique heritage.
Also, Acadiens if the future Maritimes are in the deal...
And on a bad side, amerindians nations like Mohawks loose even more importance if the british empire is vanquished...
The Iroquois were enemies with most of their Indian neighbors. If anything, the French-Canadian tradition will bring better relations with the Natives because there is a stronger tradition of diplomacy there. Full disclosure: I've been reading a lot about the colonial period lately, but not past 1750 or so, so I don't know much about what changes after the Seven Years War and the OTL revolution. Perhaps Canada is more diplomatic with Indians, perhaps just as settlerific as the other colonies, perhaps somewhere between the two.
Once the British retake Quebec and defeat the American forces they will move south along the lakes and other bodies of water towards Albany except that much of the American force which would have challenged them is gone, along with an even higher percentage of the artillery and many key officers.
In particular if Benedict Arnold is not around for the Battle of Saratoga OR certain naval activity the previous year then the Americans are likely to be cut in half along the Hudson...which means no French alliance and probable defeat.
So you would say this is bad for the revolutionaries? Could the French alliance be provoked by the taking of Quebec itself?
In any case, another hero, IOTL obscure or unknown, could rise to Benedict Arnold's prominence and make similar masterstrokes, since he is up in Canada. In any case, the British need to expend time and manpower taking back the city. There's also the small chance of one of those heroic miracles where Benedict Arnold brilliantly holds the city against all odds etc etc etc.