Was the Quebec Act of 1774 Significant?
In 1774 the British government passed an act that made “more effectual Provisions for the Government of the Province of Quebec in North America”(Quebec Act 1774). The provisions were the multiple freedoms or rights that the British parliament returned to the French population in North America. Firstly, it returned to the French their form of civil law. Secondly, it gave them the right to follow or practice their own religion. Thirdly, it expanded Quebec’s land borders. To determine whether something is significant or not one must consider if the event was notable, how lasting were the consequences, and has the event become symbolic to present day.
One of the provisions returned to the French was their form of civil law. The definition of civil law is “the body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters” (Dictionary). This provision allowed the French to deal with their own private matters without using the British system. Meaning, the British would now not be able to impose their own laws and standards in Quebec giving the French more freedom and independance. Another provision stated that the French would be allowed to practice their catholic religion. Although this was beneficial for the French it also had a consequence. That part of the act was a reason why the Thirteen Colonies placed the Quebec Act of 1774 under their Intolerable Acts. This was because they “were fearful about the spread of Catholicism” (Kennedy Hickman). This fear was widespread enough to be recognized by the majority of the Thirteen Colonies and ultimately contributed to the American Revolution in 1775. In addition, to the right to religion, the Quebec Act also expanded Quebec’s borders giving them more land. For instance, most of the Ohio County had been promised to several of the colonies through their charters and many of them had already laid claim to pieces of land. As a result of the act, that land now became part of Quebec (Kennedy Hickman). We can assume that this angered the Thirteen Colonies, by removing land that had been previously promised to them, it gave them another reason to place the Quebec Act under their Intolerable Acts.
These three provisions contributed to the making of Canada. If the Quebec Act had not been created and the Thirteen Colonies had not disagreed with those provisions, would Canada still be what it is today? Would there still have been the American Revolutionary War? With the events above, Canada would be very different than it is now, if this act had not come to be. Therefore, the Quebec Act of 1774 is significant.
Works Cited
Hickman, Kennedy. “What Were the Intolerable Acts?” About. About Education. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
<http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/p/jutland.htm>.
“The Quebec Act, 1774.” The Quebec Act, 1774. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/PreConfederation/qa_1774.html>.
“Civil Law.” Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civil law?s=t>
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