Quebec Act: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Russell D. Jones
(Copy edits)
mNo edit summary
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{subpages}}{{TOC|right}}
{{subpages}}{{TOC|right}}


The '''Quebec Act''' of 1774 was an Act of the British Parliament setting out procedures of governance in the [[Quebec|Province of Quebec]].<ref> 14 Geo. III c. 83 </ref> It had long been consider by the British North American Colonists to have been related to the [[Coercive Acts]] passed at around the same time and in response to the [[Boston Tea Party]].  It is also the only act of Parliament specifically mentioned in the [[Declaration of Independence]].
The '''Quebec Act''' of 1774 (14 Geo. III c. 83) was a law for the establishment of civilian government and for the recognition of religious rights in the former territories of [[New France]] occupied by Great Britain following the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]] ending the [[French and Indian War]].  The law was considered by the British North American colonists to have been related to the [[Coercive Acts]] passed at around the same time and in response to the [[Boston Tea Party]].  It is also the only act of Parliament specifically mentioned in the U.S. [[U.S. Declaration of Independence]].
 
In order to secure the allegiance of the approximately 70,000 French Canadians to the British crown and to provide for civilian government, first Governor [[James Murray]] and later Governor [[Guy Carleton]] promoted the need for action.  This eventually resulted in the Quebec Act of 1774.


==Background==
==Background==
After the [[French and Indian War]], a victorious [[Great Britain]] achieved a peace agreement through the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]]. Under the terms of the treaty, the [[Kingdom of France]] chose to keep the rich sugar islands and gave up its vast North American territories known as [[New France]].  New France was then considered less valuable, as its only significant commercial product at the time was the [[fur trade]].  The territory located along the [[St. Lawrence River]], called ''Canada'' by the French, was renamed [[Province of Quebec]] by the British.
Following the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]] which ended the [[French and Indian War]], Great Britain ruled the former French territories by military law.  The British renamed [[New France]] [[Province of Quebec]] after the capital city. Following the Treaty of Paris, the British government did little to establish civilian government in the former French territories.  Except at Forts Detroit and Michillimackinac, the territory was governed by the British army under martial law.  At the forts, civilian officials to regulate the fur trade (known as commissaries) also operated.   
 
Following the Treaty of Paris, the British government did little to establish civilian government in the former French territories.  Except at Forts Detroit and Michillimackinac, the territory was governed by the British army under martial law.  At the Forts, civilian officials to regulate the fur trade (known as commissaries) also operated.   


During the 1760s, French civilians as far away as the Mississippi River began complaining and defying British law for the lack of civilian government.  At one point, General Gage considering deporting the ''habitants'' as the British had done to the French population of Acadia during the [[French and Indian War]], but this was abandoned as impractical and too expensive.  To quell this growing French dissent, the British passed the Quebec Act to provide for civilian government.
During the 1760s, French civilians as far away as the Mississippi River began complaining and defying British law for the lack of civilian government.  At one point, General Gage considering deporting the ''habitants'' as the British had done to the French population of Acadia during the [[French and Indian War]], but this was abandoned as impractical and too expensive.  To quell this growing French dissent, the British passed the Quebec Act to provide for civilian government.
Line 18: Line 14:


==Effects on the Province of Quebec==
==Effects on the Province of Quebec==
The Quebec Act restored the former French civil tradition for private law, which had been suspended in 1763 in favor of military rule and allowed for the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] faith to be practiced.  It replaced the old oath with one to George III which had no reference to the Protestant faith.
The Quebec Act restored French law for civil cases, which had been suspended in 1763 in favor of military rule and allowed for the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] faith to be practiced.  The law also allowed for Roman Catholics to hold government office, a practice not allowed in British homeland or other British colonial administration.  


==Reaction in the Thirteen Colonies==
==Reaction in the Thirteen Colonies==
The Quebec Act was one of the [[Intolerable Acts]] denounced by the American colonists, further contributing to the American Revolution.  They pointed to the lack of representative government in Quebec as proof that Parliament meant to extend its tyranny over North America.   
The Quebec Act was one of the [[Intolerable Acts]] denounced by the American colonists, further contributing to the American Revolution.  They pointed to the lack of representative government in Quebec as proof that Parliament meant to extend its tyranny over North America.   


Frontiersmen from [[Virginia]] and other colonies were already entering the area annexed to Quebec and land development companies had already been formed to acquire ownership of large tracts and sell land to settlers.  In spite of clauses denying this intent, the seaboard colonies argued that the Quebec act was attempting also to invalidate their western land claims.  The seaboard colonists also denounced the Act for promoting the growth of Papism and cutting back on traditional English rights and freedoms in favor of a French-styled system.  
Frontiersmen from [[Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia]] and other colonies were already entering the area annexed to Quebec and land development companies had already been formed to acquire ownership of large tracts and sell land to settlers.  In spite of clauses denying this intent, the seaboard colonies argued that the Quebec Act was attempting also to invalidate their western land claims.  The seaboard colonists also denounced the Act for promoting the growth of Papism and cutting back on traditional English rights and freedoms in favor of a French-styled system.


==The Quebec Act in Operation==
==The Quebec Act in Operation==
Line 29: Line 25:


==Historiographical Interpretations==
==Historiographical Interpretations==
Langston (2006) looked at press reaction in [[New England]] and found that newspaper editors of the time explained how the Act reorganized Canadian governance, established direct rule by the crown, and limited the reach of English law to criminal jurisprudenceEditors such as [[Isaiah Thomas]] of the ''The Massachusetts Spy'' drew links between the Quebec Act and legislation circumscribing American liberties, such as the [[Tea Act]] and the [[Coercive Acts]]. Editors shaped public opinion by writing editorials and reprinting opposition letters from both sides of the Atlantic.  The [[First Continental Congress]], which met from 5 September to 26 October 1774, addressed the inhabitants of Quebec, warning them of the perils of the increasingly arbitrary, tyrannical, and oppressive nature of British government.
Paul Langston (2006) examined how colonial newspaper editors skewed the presentation of the law to highlight how the law may have circumscribed traditional English libertiesAs part of the propaganda emanating from the highly-charged political debate in Boston, these editorials and letters, some from the other side of the Atlantic, denounce the ActEven the [[First Continental Congress]] attempted to address the problem with a circular letter to the inhabitants of Quebec warning them about the encroachments upon their liberties being attempted by Parliament.


The Act was never enforced outside Canada. Its main importance was to anger the Americans, weaken the King's supporters (Loyalists), and speed the confrontation that became the [[American Revolution]].<ref>Miller 1943</ref> When the war started, an unsuccessful effort was made in Parliament to repeal the laws in hopes of mollifying the angry Americans, but it was too late and there was no repeal. The [[Treaty of Paris (1783)]] gave the lands south of the Great Lakes to the United States.
==Attribution==
{{WPAttribution}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
<references/>
<small>
<references>
 
</references>
</small>[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]

Latest revision as of 07:00, 9 October 2024

This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

The Quebec Act of 1774 (14 Geo. III c. 83) was a law for the establishment of civilian government and for the recognition of religious rights in the former territories of New France occupied by Great Britain following the Treaty of Paris (1763) ending the French and Indian War. The law was considered by the British North American colonists to have been related to the Coercive Acts passed at around the same time and in response to the Boston Tea Party. It is also the only act of Parliament specifically mentioned in the U.S. U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Background

Following the Treaty of Paris (1763) which ended the French and Indian War, Great Britain ruled the former French territories by military law. The British renamed New France Province of Quebec after the capital city. Following the Treaty of Paris, the British government did little to establish civilian government in the former French territories. Except at Forts Detroit and Michillimackinac, the territory was governed by the British army under martial law. At the forts, civilian officials to regulate the fur trade (known as commissaries) also operated.

During the 1760s, French civilians as far away as the Mississippi River began complaining and defying British law for the lack of civilian government. At one point, General Gage considering deporting the habitants as the British had done to the French population of Acadia during the French and Indian War, but this was abandoned as impractical and too expensive. To quell this growing French dissent, the British passed the Quebec Act to provide for civilian government.

The Law

The law extended the boundaries of Quebec southward to the Ohio River and westward to the Mississippi River (the western boundary of the British territory at the time). The act recognized two different legal traditions: French law for civil cases and British law for criminal cases. Roman Catholics were granted full religious freedom while they were denied similar freedoms in either Britain or its colonies. Such recognition of what the Anglicans considered religious error flew in the face of establishment religion.

The Act establish four additional political jurisdictions in the Great Lakes region. Lieutenant governors were appointed for Detroit, Michilimackinac, Vincennes, and Illinois. The governor of Quebec was granted the right to appoint a legislative council but Parliament rejected any other form of representative assembly mainly because representative government had not be part of either the French or habitant tradition.

Effects on the Province of Quebec

The Quebec Act restored French law for civil cases, which had been suspended in 1763 in favor of military rule and allowed for the Roman Catholic faith to be practiced. The law also allowed for Roman Catholics to hold government office, a practice not allowed in British homeland or other British colonial administration.

Reaction in the Thirteen Colonies

The Quebec Act was one of the Intolerable Acts denounced by the American colonists, further contributing to the American Revolution. They pointed to the lack of representative government in Quebec as proof that Parliament meant to extend its tyranny over North America.

Frontiersmen from Virginia and other colonies were already entering the area annexed to Quebec and land development companies had already been formed to acquire ownership of large tracts and sell land to settlers. In spite of clauses denying this intent, the seaboard colonies argued that the Quebec Act was attempting also to invalidate their western land claims. The seaboard colonists also denounced the Act for promoting the growth of Papism and cutting back on traditional English rights and freedoms in favor of a French-styled system.

The Quebec Act in Operation

Henry Hamilton was appointed lieutenant governor at Detroit in 1775. Hamilton had power to establish courts in Detroit and Michilimackinac but the start of the American Revolution inhibited any further implementation of the Act until after the war. Later, when Hamilton became the military commandant at Fort Detroit, civilian administration was again merged with military administration.

Historiographical Interpretations

Paul Langston (2006) examined how colonial newspaper editors skewed the presentation of the law to highlight how the law may have circumscribed traditional English liberties. As part of the propaganda emanating from the highly-charged political debate in Boston, these editorials and letters, some from the other side of the Atlantic, denounce the Act. Even the First Continental Congress attempted to address the problem with a circular letter to the inhabitants of Quebec warning them about the encroachments upon their liberties being attempted by Parliament.

Attribution

Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.

Notes