1. British North America

2. When Britain took over New France (after the fall of Quebec at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham 1759)
The Conquest resulted in the British imposing two new governing set of Laws
(while trying to figure out what to do with the French…)
1) Treaty of Paris 1763
2) Royal Proclamation 1763
The Conquest 1759

3. Gave Great Britain control over New France and all of its Territories.
“New France” was re-named “Quebec”
Authority : Governors appointed by the English monarchs
People could not elect their own government
The Treaty of Paris 1763

4. Differences between French and English
The only English were Governors
French and English
Roman Catholic and Protestant
French had Seigneurial System
More French than English
Languages
Religions
Landholding system
Instead of being ‘in control’ of the fur trade, French Canadiens were now only guides and fur traders.
Differences between French and English

5. Rules governing British dealings with Aboriginals Peoples.
The Aboriginal Peoples were not to be disturbed on their lands. No governors could grant land to setters that was on Aboriginal territory *(unless it was sold to the crown by the Aboriginals)
People who inadvertently settled on Aboriginal territory must move.
Royal Proclamation 1763

6. The Original intent of the British (and these Government was to assimilate the French into the British colonies.
This idea would change very quickly……

7. Background: Revolution in the 13 Colonies
Indication of revolution
Why?
13 colonies were upset with British Policies, especially the lack of an elected government. (Colonists couldn’t vote)
The Governors in the new colony of BNA were scared!
Worried that revolution in the South would spread North and that the French would turn on the now ruling British….
Background: Revolution in the 13 Colonies

8. Solution: The Quebec Act 1774
Purpose: to gain the support of the French colonists in BNA
Established by Guy Carleton (1st British governor of Quebec)
The Act allowed the French:
To retain their culture and language
Re-instated French property and civil laws (but kept British Criminal laws)
To practice Roman Catholicism
The legalization of paying tithes to the RC church (the British hoped to get support of the RC leaders to keep the French from joining the rebellion to the South….)
Created the borders of Quebec to include the Ohio Valley (not the same as today!)
Solution: The Quebec Act 1774

9. The Act DID NOT… Allow the French colonists to vote
Or to hold legal office (i.e. lawyers)- unless they were to swear an oath to the British Crown…
Also, this act was passed by British parliament without the input from French or Aboriginal peoples.
Unlike the Royal Proclamation, the Quebec Act did not mention the Aboriginal Peoples.
The Act DID NOT…

10. The 13 Colonies (Americans) would eventually invade Quebec….
Why?
Thought the Act was “intolerable” because it was instituted by the monarchy and not through democracy. (including many other related to taxation in the 13 Colonies…) and it seemed to warn of potential losses to their own political, economic and social rights…
Results:
The British and French forces in BNA band together to boot the Americans out…
Historical Significance? :
Helped forge a relationship against the 13 Colonies to the South
The 13 Colonies (Americans) would eventually invade Quebec….

11. And so begins the Revolution…
The much rumoured revolution in the 13 colonies became a reality by 1775.
It would directly lead to the first wave of English speaking people in Canada : The Loyalists
The Loyalists were Americans who remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution/American War of Independence
And so begins the Revolution…