1764 – 1791

The Province of Quebec in the British Empire

The concessions

Very few British immigrants came to Quebec. If they did, they stayed in the cities away from the Canadiens (less assimilation)

To ease the tension between the British and the Canadiens, Governor Murray brings back French civil law and allows a new Catholic bishop to be appointed.

Prominent Canadiens send petitions to the British King demanding more changes. Most importantly, they want the Test Act repealed (gotten rid of)

Governor Murray (1st Governor of Quebec)

Jean-Olivier Briand (1st Bishop of Quebec)

Division Among British Colonists

The British colonist disagree on how the colony is governor and how Canadiens should be treated and form two parties:

French Party: Made up of administrators and nobles. They are happy to make concessions to the Canadiens to keep the peace.

British Party: Made up of wealthy merchants. They are furious about the concessions. They want to see total assimilation and the establishment of a legislative assembly.

Cape Diamond Timber Depot in Wolfe’s Quebec

Ships loading timber in Quebec 1860

American Revolution and the Quebec Act

During the 1760’s and the 1770’s, the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies expressed anger towards Great Britain. They were upset about the the taxes they had to pay and the little say they had in the governing of the colony. The American Revolution begins in 1774.

Great Britain was afraid that the Canadiens would join with the Americans in a revolt against Great Britain.

To avoid this, British Parliament passes the Quebec Act in 1774, which brought back French civil law to Quebec, expanded the territory, got rid of the Test Act and recognized the Catholic religion. All this was meant to keep the Canadiens from rebelling.

Boston Tea Party (Dec 1773)

U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)

Province of Quebec 1774

Reactions to the Quebec Act

Catholic Church: Welcomed it as it protected their religion. Encouraged Canadiens to not rebel.

Canadiens: They were content. Quebec Act still does not change much on the seigneuries where they live.

British merchants: They are furious. They want to Canadiens assimilated. They do not want to make any concessions to the Canadiens.

Americans: They don’t like it either. Americans want control of the Ohio Valley which is a part of the new territory of Quebec. In 1775, rebels try and invade Quebec.

Treaty of Paris of 1783

The Thirteen Colonies defeat the British. In the Treaty of Paris (1783) Great Britain

recognizes the new country, the United States of America.

Loyalists – British subjects who have allegiance to British king, who leave the 13 Colonies during or after the war and come to Quebec. They are “loyal” to the king and also expect Quebec to be a English speaking, Protestant, British colony. They settle in the southern parts of Quebec (Eastern Townships)

Essay Question Practice

1) Figure out who and what you have to talk about

2) Write your topic sentence 3) Provide your reasons or explanations in

order of weakest to strongest.4) Read your topic sentence again and make

sure it matches what you have written already.

5) Write a conclusion that sums up everything you said already and matches your topic sentence.