1. Britain Takes Over: British North America 1763-1867

2. Governing the colonies
At first, the British didn’t really
‘shake things up’.
After the fall of Quebec in 1759, the status quo, or the same standard the French had been used to was maintained.
But in 1763 things changed……

3. Royal Proclamation 1763 The Royal Proclamation (1763)
(I call it the Assimilation Act…)
made these changes:
The Western land is reserved for Indian territory
They reduced the size of Quebec
They introduced government by governor and council both appointed by the British King
Allowed to continue speaking their French language

4. Royal Proclamation (con’t)
The official religion changed from
Roman Catholic to Church of England (Protestant)
The French people were promised, but never received an elected assembly

5. Royal Proclamation (con’t)
The British legal system was introduced
Many French Laws were abolished
**Overall, it was an imposition of Anglicanization on the French**
AKA = Assimilation of the French into English Culture

6. Class Discussion/Response
What kind of tensions do you think existed between the French and the English?
If you were a Canadien in British North America, how would you feel about the British Royal Proclamation Act?

7. The Quebec Act 1774
In 1774, the system of governance changed to the Quebec Act
Due to a lack of enthusiasm from the French about the Royal Proclamation (no kidding)
Purpose?: To gain French support in case the American Revolutionary wars spread north, Britain enacted a milder (more ‘French friendly’) system of government
Quebec Act Brief explanation

8. The Quebec Act (con’t)
This act enlarged the size of Quebec: which made the soon to be US Patriots angry!!!
(Patriot = those wanting to separate from their Mother Country’s Power of Britain)

9. The Quebec Act (con’t) Guaranteed French Language Rights
Opened up appointments on the council to French Canadians
Established freedom of worship for
French-Canadians
Re-instated the seigniorial system (as opposed to feudal)

10. The size of Quebec before and after….
Figure 4-6 pp.113
The Proclamation Line 1763
Figure 4.9 pp. 115
BNA AFTER the Quebec Act

11. French Seigneurs and Roman Catholics = Happy
Overall…..
French Seigneurs and Roman Catholics = Happy
British residents living in Quebec
and the 13 colonies….not so much….

12. Constitutional Act 1791 Finally, in 1791 British changed things again
Divided the colony into 2 sections:
Upper Canada (now ONT) and
Lower Canada (now QUE)

13. Constitutional Act (con’t)
Recognized 2 dominant groups in the colony
Each area had a separate Appointed Governor and Council
Each had an Elected Assembly
It provided a British legal and land holding system for Upper Canada
Preserved French Catholic rights in lower Canada

14. Significance These laws, standards laid framework for modern society
e.g. Capitalism/(free) private enterprise
English as main language
System of government modeled after Britain still seen today in Canada