The Quebec Act (1774)

• In 1774, the British government addressed growing unrest in the Thirteen Colonies, and a new constitution favored the Canadiens
• This contributed to armed conflict between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain

The Quebec Act (1774)

• In 1770, Governor Guy Carleton went to London to request changes to the constitution of the Province of Quebec, arguing:
• The assimilation policy of the Royal Proclamation would fail because most Canadiens in the Province of Quebec were attached to traditions, including the Catholic religion
• Concessions would secure Canadien loyalty with unrest in the Thirteen Colonies
• In 1774, Carleton convinced British authorities, and Parliament adopted a new constitution: the Quebec Act

New Boundaries

• The British government significantly enlarged the territory of the Province of Quebec through the Quebec Act
• The colony regained territory reserved for Native people, which was coveted by the Thirteen Colonies
• Merchants in the Province of Quebec gained control of the Great Lakes region and its fur supply

Political Organization

• The Quebec Act kept the political organization of the colony mostly unchanged
• The constitution of 1774 still required a governor aided by a council of 17 to 23 members
• The British Party's legislative assembly was not created
• The new constitution replaced the Test Act with an oath of allegiance to the king of Great Britain
• Canadiens can now sit on the Council and occupy administration without renouncing their faith

Justice

• English criminal law was maintained, but French civil law was reinstated
• The seigneurial system was officially recognized, confirming Canadien seigneurs' property and assets, except for religious communities & orders

Religion

• The Catholic religion was now officially permitted
• The Catholic clergy could collect tithes
• The bishop of Québec could then appoint a successor

Reactions to the Quebec Act

• The Quebec Act took effect on May 1, 1775, causing reactions from groups in Britain's North American colonies
• The Canadiens experienced the following reactions:
• Seigneurs were pleased with recognizing the seigneurial system, increasing the possibility of sitting on the Council
• The Church was pleased with recognition of the Catholic religion and the reinstatement of the tithe
• Merchants were pleased with the expansion of the fur trading territory
• The bulk of the Canadien population welcomed the Quebec Act because it recognized Catholic religion
• However, the Canadiens now had to pay the tithe and seigneurial dues
• The British of the Province of Quebec experienced the following reactions:
• Governor Carleton + the French Party allies succeeded in pushing through ideas, and winning a success
• Members of the British Party were displeased as no legislative assembly created, reinstatement of French civil law opposed, consolation through expansion of the boundaries for the fur trade
• The inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies were critical of:
• Concessions made to Catholics
• Absence of a legislative assembly
• Abolition of English civil law in the Province of Quebec
• Territorial measures preventing settlement on Ohio Valley land and depriving fur traders in the Great Lakes region
• British merchants in 1774 sent a petition to the king asking to abolish the Quebec Act
• Claimed they lost protection of English laws and disgraceful as Britons to introduce laws of Canada

The American Revolution

• Origins date back to the 1760s, with discontent growing among inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies with Great Britain, deteriorating after adopting the Quebec Act in 1774

Period of Unrest

• The Royal Proclamation of 1763 territorial measures deprived British colonists of the rich Ohio Valley, causing anger in the Thirteen Colonies.
• King George III thought Thirteen Colonies would have to repay the debt the British Crown owed from the Seven Years' War
• Starting in 1764, the British government urged merchants in the Thirteen Colonies to exclusively trade with Britain
• Between 1764 and 1767, new taxes were put on products
• 1764 - Adoption of the Sugar Act imposed a tax on imported products, like sugar
• 1765 - Adoption of the Stamp Act forced colonists to pay for stamps on documents sent within the colony
• 1767 - Adoption of the Townshend Acts imposed taxes on imported products, like glass and tea
• The Thirteen Colonies reacted strongly, with resistance from colonists based on "no taxation without representation," arguing they had no elected representatives in Parliament
• In 1773, London adopted the Tea Act, giving the British East India Company exclusive control over the tea trade in the Thirteen Colonies
• With this law, the company sold tea without tax, to sell at lower prices

The Boston Tea Party

• In response to the Tea Act, British colonists stormed three British ships anchored in Boston Harbor and threw their chests of tea overboard
• This event called to be known as the Boston Tea Party

Intolerable Acts

• In 1774, Parliament adopted laws in response to unrest (esp. Boston Tea Party) in the Thirteen Colonies
• Colonists in the Thirteen Colonies called these laws "Intolerable Acts," while London called them "Coercive Acts."
• Here are the Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) of 1774, and their summary:
• Massachusetts Government Act: The inhabitants of Massachusetts could no longer elect their government, and public assemblies required British authorities' permission
• Administration of Justice Act: British public servants facing capital crime charges in the colony could be tried in London
• Boston Port Act: Boston Harbor closed until the destroyed chests of tea paid
• Quartering Act: Unoccupied buildings in the colony requisitioned to house British soldiers
• Quebec Act: Territory of Quebec expanded at the expense of the Thirteen Colonies, and reinstatement of French civil law with Catholicism unacceptable to the colonists

From Unrest to War

• In the fall of 1774, representatives of the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia in response to the Intolerable Acts
• They organized a resistance movement
• Within months, the situation escalated, and battles between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies' militias broke out in April 1775
• The representatives of the Thirteen Colonies met again in May 1775, and the insurgents set up their own army in June 1775
• Also in June 1775, George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief
• On July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies declared independence and called themselves the United States of America

War

• As of 1778, with military support from France, and ally Spain the following year, the insurgents forced British troops to surrender in 1781
• On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris signed after negotiations by reps from the United States and Great Britain
• The British government officially recognized the independence of the United States of America
• The Treaty of Versailles, which was on the same day, settled Great Britain, France, and Spain

Summary of Part 3

• Governor Guy Carleton looked to provide the colony to secure the Canadiens loyalty to Great Britain with a new constitution
• The Quebec Act of 1774 significantly expanded the territory of the Province of Quebec to include the Ohio Valley, coveted by American colonists
• The Quebec Act had the folliwing measure that were favourable to Canadiens
• The abolition of the Test Act
• The freedom to practice the Catholic religion
• The reinstatement of French civil law
• The Canadiens embraced the new constitution, while members of the British Party demanded its repeal
• Decisions made by London caused unrest in the Thirteen Colonies starting in 1763, territorial measures under the Royal Proclamation (1763) and a series of taxes imposed by London (1764 to 1767)
• After the Boston Tea Party (1773), London adopted the Intolerable Acts (1774)
• The Thirteen Colonies fought against Great Britain & won with the Treaty of Paris of 1783

Impact of American Revolution on the Province of Quebec

• Province of Quebec suffered because of the conflict between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain
• The effects on the Canadien population before, during and after were serious

Before the War: Calling on the Canadiens

• In the fall of 1774, the representatives of the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia to address Great Britain's adoption of the Intolerable Acts
• Sent a letter to the inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, call them to their cause by denouncing what considered to be the government authority abuse
• They also explained a legislative assembly provided representation for the Canadiens

During the War: The Invasion of the Province of Quebec

• The Thirteen Colonies entered into war with Great Britain, despite failed attempts to get the Canadiens support
• Insurgents invaded colony from fear that Province of Quebec would be British troops base
• Bishop Briand urged his followers against responding to calls to from the insurgents
• Monseigneur Briand stressed the Church’s faithfulness to the British Crown and supported for the population to remain to King and Great Britain

Occupation of Montréal and the Siege - Invasion of the City of Québec

• The rebellion by Thirteen Colonies increased when Canadiens and seigneurs and forces joined Britain
• In November 1775, the army under General Montgomery got to Montréal and occupied the city
• After that, Montgomery join army of General Arnold in invasion of the city of Québec
• Concerted attack city of Québec took place on December 31, 1775. Rebels defeated there but the city of Québec throughout winter continued be under siege
• In spring of 1776, the rebels with Carleton's army in pursuit following the arrival of British fleet its reinforcements

After the War: The Treaty of Paris (1783) and its Repercussions

• The insurgents were victorious over the British
• The victorious, and the impact had serious effects on boundaries and population the Province of Quebec

New Territorial Boundaries

• After Treaty of Paris and Treaty of Versailles of 1783, territorial restructuring happened on North America
• The Americans major territorial gains were result by victory over the British by -The territories Ohio Valley was added former Thirteen Colonies territory territory of the to forming the United States of America -The territory the Province of Quebec was decreased that advantage the United America -Native land was removed

Arrival of Loyalists

• Those opposed with the independence of the Thirteen Colonies were know as Loyalists, supporting King George III with Great Britain
• In 1775, Loyalists abandoned the Thirteen Colonies and migrated with 100,000 immigrating through Treaty of Paris of 1783 to the British north
• About 30,000 and about 40,000 moved in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,Cape Breton (1784) areas, and Province of Quebec had 7,000 to outside seigneurl zone on the Lake Ontario north shore and Gaspe coast

Demands of British and Loyalists

• After few hundred British and the the Loyalists arrival increased population of British more to colonists
• Demand for British demanded lived in colonies and needed Britsh Laws, demands adoption was for laws and creation In 1791, the legislative assembly was by Crown due to British laws demand