Important Battles in Western Civilization

I think this topic should be brokrn down into centuries. It is too broad to say one battle. On that note I feel Stalingrad was the most important battle of the twentith century. With the battle of Midway a close second.

I'd rather just name several important battles in Western civilizations since it's hard to consider one battle as being more important than another (although by century is a good option too).

I'd nominate the battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, the reasons being:

1 - it has something or other to do with Canada, which makes sense since this is CKA.

2 - this was a decisive battle that assured British dominance and eventually victory in Canada over French forces, which....

3 - ...Inevitably insured the future of anglophone Canada and the rest of the North American colonies.

4 - It heralded the conclusion of the French and Indian War, which was only the American slice of the greater Seven Years War (1756-1763) which, given the size, reach and complexity, can be considered the first true World War. (World War 0, perhaps?) That being said...

5 - ...Given the size and depth (and DEBT!) of the bloody conflict, the end of the Seven Years War promised to change the course of history for all countries involved. For example, though Britain would assert its dominance as sole remaining superpower, the heavy debt incurred would set in motion a number of very questionable economic decisions that would inevitably trigger the American Revolution. And the rest, as they say, is OUR history.... ^_^

If this is a thread about the most important battles ever, then the Battle of Britain is the one that I choose.

In 1940, over the skies of Southern England, when most of the rest of Europe was under German control, the RAF fought against the Luftwaffe, and the RAF were outnumbered by about 4-1. But the Luftwaffe were defeated, probably because of the British attitude of fighting to the end and NEVER surrendering. I've heard about people standing in the streets and watching dogfights between British and German planes over their houses. It must have been a strange sight - and a scary one. Downed planes landed in fields, in the streets and on top of people's houses.

During the Battle of Britain, Britain (and the Empire - Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc) was fighting ALONE against the NAZIS. This was at a time that the rest of Europe was already overrun, and the Americans hadn't yet entered the war.

If Britain fell during the Battle of Britain, the Germans may have won the War.

But we defeated the Luftwaffe despite being outnumbered 4-1.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge. 1917.

The day Canada became known as a nation.

Juno Beach was also a sweet victory for Canada.

I would have to second the Battle of Britain as being extremely important. The Plains of Abraham is as well.

There was also the whole war of 1812...

Couretsy of some good Canadian kids -- the Arrogant Worms:

The War of 1812

Oh, come back, proud Canadians
To before you had TV,
No hockey night in Canada,
There was no CBC (Oh, my God!).
In 1812, Madison was mad,
He was the president, you know
He thought he’d tell the British where they ought to go
He thought he’d invade Canada,
He thought that he was tough
Instead we went to Washington....
And burned down all his stuff!

And the White House burned, burned, burned,
And we’re the one’s that did it!
It burned, burned, burned,
While the president ran and cried.
It burned, burned, burned,
And things were very historical.
And the Americans ran and cried like a bunch of little babies
Waa waa waah!
In the War of 1812!

Us hillbillies from Kentucky,
Dressed in green and red,
Left home to fight in Canada,
But they returned home dead
It’s the only war the Yankees lost, except for Vietnam
And also the Alamo... and the Bay of... ham.
The loser was America,
The winner was ourselves,
So join right in and gloat about the War of 1812

So, if you go to Washington, its buildings clean and nice,
Bring a pack of matches, and we’ll burn the White House twice!

etc...

Canada did not burn down the White House! English troops that sailed from England did. Canada was not even a soveriegn country yet. Just like the USA did not win the French and Indian war we were not a country yet!