Reasons for the British Conquest
There were several reasons why the French were defeated by the British in North Americaduring the course of the Seven Years' War (1755-1763) in Europe.
New France had a vast territory but a smallpopulation to defend it. /- Britain's navy was stronger and bigger and they could prevent supply ships from reaching New France.
- New France had 5000 soldiers compared to 23,000 soldiersin the 13 Colonies.
- The population of the 13 Colonies was about 1.5 million in 1760; that of New France was about 70,000.
- The 13 Colonies has a stronger, more diversified economy than New France. New France was too reliant on France because of mercantilism.
Interpretations of the Conquest
There are varying opinions on the Conquest and its place in Quebec history.Nationalist historians, such as Guy Frégault, view the Conquest as a turning point inQuebec's history as the Conquest brought about New France's ruinsince the elite left to return to France. Consequently, it came tobe increasingly dominated by the Catholic Church and Ultramontanism started to appear. A divergent opinion from Fernand Ouelletstates that the Conquest had little impact on the evolution of French Canadian society.
Treaty of Paris 1763
/ Main Features·It ended the Seven Years' War.
·France gave up its territories in North America except the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
·The French King chose to keep the French West Indies instead of New France
New France was renamed the British Province of Quebec.
Royal Proclamation October 1763
Religion
Freedom of worship was continued however instructions toMurray indicated Britain's intention of establishing a Protestant church and schools as a means of anglicising and assimilating the French.
Legal System
It intended to replace the French Civil Code with British Common Law however Governor Murray found this to be impractical.
English merchants
In the period following the Conquest English speaking merchants came to Quebec to try to make their fortune in the new British colony of Quebec. They were known as the English or British merchants and were often in conflict with Murray. Murray even referred to them as “LicentiousFanaticks”. They wanted an elected assembly as a means to control the French pop. And wrote a petition to the King asking for murray to be recalled. He was….and Guy Carleton took his place. / Territory
The new colony was now called the British Province of Quebec however its territory was reducedto a triangular shape along the St. Lawrence River. The OhioValley was denied to both Quebec and the British-American colonies. It became known as Indian land and was set aside for the First Nations.
Pontiac’s uprising
At this time Chief Pontiac united many FN tribes and led an uprising against the British when much of the lands and gifts promised to them were not honoured by the British.
Government
Governor James Murray was tasked with dealing with the new colony. He was sympathetic to French Canadians and allowed a council to be appointed.
Roman Catholics were not permitted to hold public office in any British colonies.
Quebec Act of 1774 (The Big Bribe)
The purpose of the Quebec Act was to appease and conciliate the French Canadians so they would not join the Americans in their revolt against Britain. The main provisions of the Quebec Act centred around:/ Territory
- Quebec's territorywas enlarged to include the OhioValley. This was a major change from 1763.
Quebec was still to be governed by an appointed governor and council. An elected legislative assembly was again denied.
The Test Act was changed: Catholics could now hold government office by taking a special oath of allegiance to the King.
Roman Catholics could now be appointed to the council. Seigneurs had a chance to take part in government.
Rights Restored….
Catholics were to have full freedom of worship and the right to collect tithes by the Catholic Church was restored.It allowed for French civil law and English criminal law.
It kept the seigneurial system but also allowed the British form of landholding known as the Township system.
What consequences did the American Revolution have on the British colony of Quebec?
In 1776 the 13 colonies declared Independence from Britain and fought a long and nasty war called the American Revolution. In 1783, the Treaty of Versailles recognized the independence of the United States of America.
The American Revolution and its subsequent independence had a
tremendous impact on the the Province of Quebec in terms of power relations, demographics and culture.
- The Americans invaded Quebec in late 1775, the habitants remained neutral despite urgings from church leaders to fight with the British against the American invaders.Bishop Briand even dealt with Guy Carleton and they worked side by side which represented a new current of thought in this time ….Ultramontanism. This held that the Church was superior in decision making to the government.
- The OhioValley became part of theUnited States of America forcing fur traders from Montreal to shift to the area northwest of Lake Superior. In 1783, Montreal fur traders founded the North West Company to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company.
Demographics (population)
Thousands ofLoyalists,(Americans who had remained loyal to the British crown during theAmerican Revolution)including many Blacks, came to British North America. About 6000 Loyalists settled in Quebec increasing Quebec's English population.
- They petitioned the King for an elected assembly and a new English, Protestant province.
- Their arrival led to the eventual passage of the Constitutional Act in 1791. This Act divided the Province of Quebec into two territories, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, and grants each province an elected legislative assembly.
LiberalismA new current of thought known as Liberalism appeared in this period. It essentially focussed on the individual rights of a person…right to vote, freedom to have an opinion/speech. It was reflected in the emergence of an elected assembly and newspapers that appeared criticising the government.