The Conquest
Military Regime and the Royal
Proclamation
A Game of Charades
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One word, four syllables
First syllable: a car in Boston
Second syllable: the ____________ and the
pendulum
Third syllable: not be but ________
Fourth syllable: not on time
Capitulate
The Military Regime Capitulation
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Quebec City had been captured by the British
Mtl. Had been under siege
In 1760, the French at Mtl. capitulated (gave
up without fighting)
Two sides made an agreement, written up in
a document called, The Articles of
Capitulation
Articles of Capitulation
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Militiamen could return to their homes
People could keep property
People could stay Catholic (nuns could stay,
Jesuit priests had to leave)
People were British subjects
British refused to protect France’s Native
allies
No one would be deported to France, but
people were free to leave if they wanted to
Continued . . .
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Who stayed: most merchants, clergy, artisans
and peasants stayed – they had ties to the
colony What would those ties be?
They had family, homes, property, a place in
the community
Who left: many administrators who relied on
France for their jobs left, some merchants
with ties to French companies left
Military Regime – a time to
rebuild
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War continued in Europe until 1762
Military rule was set up in NF until a peace
treaty in Europe could be signed
They abolished the tithe (church tax)
Military governors tried to help
w/reconstruction, and avoided interfering in
the daily life of the people
New France had been destroyed by 6yrs of
war, especially Quebec City, everything had
to be rebuilt
Military Regime – General
Murray
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General Murray stayed helped in Quebec
City
Ordered his troops to respect Catholic
possessions
Met w/ native Huron allies to make
agreements
Helped organize the harvest in order to
stave off mass starvation
General Murray
Military Regime - Problems
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Starvation throughout the colony was a major
concern
Also trouble with Natives in the west led by
Pontiac
They felt that British trade practices were
unfair and didn’t like whites moving on to
their land
They attacked traders in Great Lake region –
2000 settlers killed
A treaty signed in 1766 with the western
natives
Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa
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Pontiac's War was the most
successful First Nations
resistance to the European
invasion in our history.
Though it failed to oust the
British from native lands,
the conflict forced British
authorities to a recognition
of native rights that has had
had far-reaching
consequences down to our
own time.
The Effects of the Conquest
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English Canadians still believe the Conquest
was good for Canada
French Canadiens see it as negative –
French regime was the “Golden Age”
Conquest seen by many as roots of the
problems of modern Quebec – a reason for
nationalism
It was because of the conquest that ties to
France were cut, the Bourgeoisie left (no
longer added to French economy) – French
Canadiens no longer dominated economy
An example of economic
changes – the fur trade
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Many French merchants returned to
France (the bourgeoisie)
English and Scottish merchants came to
NA – took up the roles of Fre. merchants
in the fur trade
Fur trade increased in prosperity after
conquest
Many made money
James McGill
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James McGill
1744 - 1813
Fur trader. Born in Glasgow,
and educated at the
University of Glasgow. He
emigrated to Canada (1765)
and made a fortune in the
fur trade of the north-west
territories. He left £10,000
(aprx. $20, 000) and one of
his estates to found McGill
University in Montreal
(1821).
The Royal
Proclamation
The Royal Proclamation
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Treaty of Paris (1763) ended Seven Years War in
Europe – New France officially became part of the
British empire
In 1763, an official announcement (a
proclamation) was issued – called Royal
Proclamation:
It created Quebec (much smaller then NF)
All the land west was “Indian Territory” (no one
allowed to settle)
Set up a civilian government to replace military
rule
Established English criminal and civil law
Royal Proclamation-Structure
of Government
King
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Held absolute power
Appointed the governor
Governor
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Looked after affairs of the colony
Appointed members of the executive council
Executive Council
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Advise the governor on affairs of the colony
Elected Assembly
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Was not formed because of problems with the Test Act
Changes in Territory
Royal Proclamation continued
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First governor of Quebec was General
Murray (1760-66)
Goal of the Proclamation - assimilation of
the Fre., Murray’s duty to carry this out
He was instructed to establish Eng. Laws
and Anglican Church, use English schools
to assimilate young French, encourage
British immigration (immigration from
France no longer allowed)
Royal Proclamation - Problems
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most people lived in rural areas and had no
contact with the British, so no way for them
to assimilate
Major problem with Test Act (1763): this act
required that people who held public office
belong to Anglican Church – French
Catholics couldn’t hold office or be in elected
assembly
Royal Proclamation – Murray’s
Solutions
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Murray realized it was impossible to carry out
Royal Proclamation – instead tried to win over Fre.
He didn’t form elected assembly right away –
realized the problem with Test Act and knew an
Elected Assembly would anger Fre.
Instead, he ruled through the Council
Council was helpful to the Fre.
He allowed Fre. Civil laws, but Eng. Criminal
ones
He helped Catholicism survive (let most religious
orders remain and allowed new Bishop)
Murray’s End
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Murray’s actions were smart, but Eng.
Traders demanded he be replaced
Sir Guy Carleton replaced him in 1766
However, Carleton continued Murray’s
policies
Sir Guy Carleton & the
Quebec Act
Sir Guy Carleton
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“Barring a
catastrophe
shocking to think
of, this country
must, to the end of
time, be peopled
by the Canadien
race.”
-Sir Guy Carleton
Troubles in British North
America
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The British were facing problems in the
Thirteen Colonies and Quebec
English merchants wanted Royal Proclamation
to be enforced: English laws, elected assembly
Governor, clergy, seigneurs (those supporting
the French) wanted concessions: French
laws, acceptance of Catholicism, French in
government office, larger territory
Carleton recommended these concessions to
keep Fre. loyal in case of war in Thirteen
Colonies-result is the Quebec Act
The Quebec Act of 1774
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Quebec Act repealed Royal Proclamation
Quebec is tripled in size (to south of Great Lakes
into Ohio Valley-good for fur trade)
Catholicism protected, tithe collection restored
French civil laws, English criminal
Seigneurial rights respected
No elected assembly, governor has a Legislative
Council to advise him
Oath to the King replaces Test Act-Catholics can
hold public office
Changes in Territory
Changes in Territory – The
American View
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Americans were angry
about the expansion of
Quebec. This land had
been reserved as an
“Indian Territory”, but
the Americans had
wanted it. They were
unhappy when Quebec
was granted this
valuable land.
Reactions to the Quebec Act
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English merchants angry – too many
concession to Fre.
Fre. elite (seigneurs) happy – regained their
rights
Habitants are indifferent – however, upset
about tithe
Inhabitants of Thirteen Colonies angry –
lost territory on Ohio Valley, considered gov’t
system undemocratic, object to acceptance
of Fre. laws and Catholicism