Colonial Basis of Canada's Colonial Basis of Canada's Government SystemGovernment System

Three British colonial laws laid the basis of Canada's government system:

Royal Proclamation (1763) Quebec Act (1774) Constitutional Act (1791)

Royal Proclamation (1763):Royal Proclamation (1763):

AnglicizationAnglicization

British conquest of British conquest of New France (1763)New France (1763)

Background Circumstances:

Purpose:Establish British representative Establish British representative government in the colony of government in the colony of QuebecQuebec

Attract English-speaking settlers Attract English-speaking settlers to Quebecto Quebec

"Anglicize""Anglicize" the newly the newly conquered French Canadiansconquered French Canadians

Royal Proclamation: Structure & Royal Proclamation: Structure & Operation of GovernmentOperation of Government

Promise of an elected assembly Promise of an elected assembly when enough English settlers when enough English settlers arrived in Quebecarrived in Quebec

Roman Catholics Roman Catholics NOTNOT permitted permitted to hold public officeto hold public office

English civil and criminal law English civil and criminal law replace French civil and criminal replace French civil and criminal lawlaw

Freedom of worship granted to Freedom of worship granted to Roman Catholic French Roman Catholic French Canadians within British lawCanadians within British law

Church of England (Anglican) to Church of England (Anglican) to be promoted within colonybe promoted within colony

Response to Royal Response to Royal Proclamation:Proclamation:Rapid increase in French Rapid increase in French

Canadian population in Canadian population in 1760's (doubled in 10 years)1760's (doubled in 10 years)

Anticipated English Anticipated English immigration does not occurimmigration does not occur

Dominant French Canadian Dominant French Canadian groups (Roman Catholic groups (Roman Catholic Church, seigneurs) Church, seigneurs) concerned about uncertain concerned about uncertain futurefuture

Increasing unrest in Thirteen Increasing unrest in Thirteen Colonies, which were denied Colonies, which were denied access to the Ohio valleyaccess to the Ohio valley

Need for change in policy!Need for change in policy!

British Governor James Murray was convinced that the French Canadians would not be easily "anglicized". He refused to convene an elected assembly, as it would have been controlled by the small English minority in the colony. Angry English merchants succeeded in having him recalled by the British government.

Quebec Act (1774): Quebec Act (1774):

Anglicization AbandonedAnglicization AbandonedBackground:

Growing unrest in Thirteen Growing unrest in Thirteen ColoniesColonies

Failure of Royal Failure of Royal Proclamation's "Anglicization" Proclamation's "Anglicization" policypolicy

Purpose:Win Win active loyaltyactive loyalty of French of French CanadiansCanadians

Secure colony of Quebec in Secure colony of Quebec in case of colonial revoltcase of colonial revolt

Quebec Act: Structure & Quebec Act: Structure & Operation of GovernmentOperation of Government

Governor and appointed CouncilGovernor and appointed CouncilElected Assembly Elected Assembly denieddeniedRoman Catholics permitted to hold Roman Catholics permitted to hold public officepublic office

English criminal law remained in English criminal law remained in effecteffect

French civil law reinstated in QuebecFrench civil law reinstated in QuebecRight to practice Roman Catholic Right to practice Roman Catholic religion guaranteedreligion guaranteed

Roman Catholic Church's "property Roman Catholic Church's "property and civil rights" restoredand civil rights" restored

Sir Guy Carleton, Murray's replacement, persuaded Britain to abandon its "Anglicization" policy and attempt to win the loyalty of the French Canadians by guaranteeing their basic religious and political rights. He believed that the people could be persuaded by their leaders, the RC Church and seigneurs, to support Britain in the event of a colonial revolt.

Effects of the Quebec ActEffects of the Quebec ActEarned Britain the support of Earned Britain the support of Roman Catholic Church & Roman Catholic Church & seigneurs seigneurs

Loyalty of common people Loyalty of common people (habitants) not significantly (habitants) not significantly affectedaffected

Increased Thirteen Colonies' Increased Thirteen Colonies' anger at Britain, contributing anger at Britain, contributing to the outbreak of the to the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775American Revolution in 1775

Constitutional Act (1791): Constitutional Act (1791): ConsolidationConsolidation

Background:

Aftermath of American RevolutionAftermath of American RevolutionLarge Loyalist migration to western Large Loyalist migration to western areas of Quebecareas of QuebecPurpose:

Establish representative system of Establish representative system of government and boundaries government and boundaries acceptable to Loyalistsacceptable to Loyalists

Prevent future colonial unrest by Prevent future colonial unrest by limiting the power of elected colonial limiting the power of elected colonial assembliesassemblies

Prevent French-English conflictPrevent French-English conflict

Constitutional Act: Structure & Constitutional Act: Structure & Operation of GovernmentOperation of Government

Colony of Quebec divided into Colony of Quebec divided into Upper (English) & Lower (French) Upper (English) & Lower (French) CanadaCanada

Governor and two appointed Governor and two appointed Councils in each colonyCouncils in each colony

Executive Council appointed for life Executive Council appointed for life as advisors to Governoras advisors to Governor

Legislative Council appointed for life Legislative Council appointed for life as "upper house" of legislature, with as "upper house" of legislature, with power to veto bills proposed by power to veto bills proposed by elected assemblyelected assembly

Legislative Assembly elected once Legislative Assembly elected once every four years, with power to levy every four years, with power to levy taxes but no power to control the taxes but no power to control the actions of the Governor or the two actions of the Governor or the two appointed Councilsappointed Councils

Constitutional Act: Structure of GovernmentConstitutional Act: Structure of Government

Effects of the Constitutional Act:Effects of the Constitutional Act:

Period of stability and Period of stability and growth in British growth in British colonies (1791 - 1815)colonies (1791 - 1815)

Growing colonial Growing colonial unrest over the unrest over the Assembly's lack of Assembly's lack of power after 1815power after 1815