Entangling the Quebec Act: Transnational Contexts, Meanings, and Legacies in North America and the British Empire

The Quebec Act of 1774 was a significant event in British imperial history, redrawing North American borders and establishing a permanent system of governance. This first sustained examination of the act in nearly thirty years, Entangling the Quebec Act, brings together essays by historians from North America and Europe to explore this seminal event using a variety of historical approaches. The book resituates the Quebec Act in light of Atlantic, American, Canadian, Indigenous, and British Imperial historiographies, illustrating the importance of intertwining methodologies to bring these connections into focus.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 17 December 2020
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The Quebec Act of 1774 was a pivotal moment in British imperial history, marking a significant shift in the country's perceptions of empire and authority. While it is widely acknowledged as a formative event in various national histories, it has been largely overlooked in these narratives. In Entangling the Quebec Act, a collection of essays by historians from North America and Europe, this seminal event is explored through a diverse range of historical approaches. The book focuses on a singular occurrence that had far-reaching social, legal, revolutionary, and imperial consequences, bringing together perspectives from diverse fields such as legal and cultural history, political and religious history, and beyond. By resituating the Quebec Act within the context of Atlantic, American, Canadian, Indigenous, and British Imperial historiographies, the contributors demonstrate how the interconnectedness of national histories can be observed at a single crossing point. This transnational collaboration highlights the importance of intertwining methodologies to bring these connections to the forefront.

The Quebec Act of 1774 had a profound impact on British imperial perceptions of empire and authority. It redrew the boundaries of North America and established a permanent system of governance in the region. This act marked a significant shift in the country's understanding of its role in the world and its relationship with its colonies.

The Quebec Act was a response to the growing tensions between Britain and France in the late 18th century. Britain had been expanding its empire in North America, and France had been asserting its claims in the region. The act was designed to appease France by giving it control over the territory of Quebec, which was previously part of New France.

The Quebec Act was a controversial measure, as it was seen as a betrayal of the promises made to the British colonists in the Declaration of Independence. The act gave France control over the territory of Quebec, which included the city of Montreal, and it also gave France the right to appoint judges and officials in the region. This was seen as a violation of the colonists' rights to self-government and self-determination.

The Quebec Act also had significant social and economic consequences. It led to the displacement of many French-speaking Catholics from the territory of Quebec, as they were unwilling to live under French rule. This led to the growth of a large English-speaking population in the region, which became known as the Quebecois.

The Quebec Act also had implications for the future of British imperialism in North America. It set a precedent for the British government to assert its authority over its colonies and to disregard the wishes of the colonists. This would lead to further conflicts and tensions between Britain and its colonies in the years to come.

In conclusion, the Quebec Act of 1774 was a pivotal moment in British imperial history, marking a significant shift in the country's perceptions of empire and authority. It redrew the boundaries of North America and established a permanent system of governance in the region. While the act was controversial and led to tensions between Britain and France, it also had significant social and economic consequences. The act set a precedent for the British government to assert its authority over its colonies and to disregard the wishes of the colonists, which would lead to further conflicts and tensions in the years to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228003908