The American The American RevolutionRevolution

Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution

British attempts to limit British attempts to limit western settlement.western settlement.

Taxation without Taxation without representationrepresentation

The Quebec ActThe Quebec Act

Limiting Western SettlementLimiting Western Settlement

The Royal Proclamation of The Royal Proclamation of 1763 by Britain set out to 1763 by Britain set out to address many of the address many of the concerns of the Native concerns of the Native Americans.Americans.

Settlement was prohibited Settlement was prohibited west of the Appalachian west of the Appalachian Mountains.Mountains.

The interior, off-limits to The interior, off-limits to settlers, was reserved as settlers, was reserved as “Indian territory.”“Indian territory.”

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains

This outraged most colonialists because for This outraged most colonialists because for many of them the main reason for going to many of them the main reason for going to war with France had been to open up the war with France had been to open up the Ohio Valley and interior to settlers.Ohio Valley and interior to settlers.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 marked the The Royal Proclamation of 1763 marked the first time that Britain gave legal recognition first time that Britain gave legal recognition to prior aboriginal land rights.to prior aboriginal land rights.

The key passage read:The key passage read: Any Lands whatever, which, not having Any Lands whatever, which, not having

been ceded to or purchased by Us…are been ceded to or purchased by Us…are reserved to the said Indians.reserved to the said Indians.

Taxation without RepresentationTaxation without Representation

The war against France and her allies had The war against France and her allies had pushed Great Britain to the brink of financial pushed Great Britain to the brink of financial ruin. The cost of the war sent the British ruin. The cost of the war sent the British national debt to 130 million pounds.national debt to 130 million pounds.

The most Britain had ever collected in taxes The most Britain had ever collected in taxes in a single year before this was 15.5 million in a single year before this was 15.5 million poundspounds

Britain believed that the Britain believed that the colonies that had been colonies that had been defended should play a defended should play a part in paying the cost.part in paying the cost.

The problem was that the The problem was that the colonies did not enjoy full colonies did not enjoy full British citizenship and did British citizenship and did not have delegates in not have delegates in London.London.

““No taxation without No taxation without representation!” representation!” became a became a popular slogan in the popular slogan in the colonies.colonies.

The Quebec ActThe Quebec Act

In Quebec, the citizens were still largely In Quebec, the citizens were still largely French-Canadian who were not content French-Canadian who were not content under British ruleunder British rule

To pacify the French-Canadians and limit To pacify the French-Canadians and limit the possibility of rebellion the Quebec Act the possibility of rebellion the Quebec Act was introduced.was introduced.

Keys points of the Quebec Act:Keys points of the Quebec Act:

French civil law was reinstated for matters of French civil law was reinstated for matters of propertyproperty

English law was retained for criminal mattersEnglish law was retained for criminal matters The seigneurial system of land holding was The seigneurial system of land holding was

confirmed.confirmed. And the Roman Catholic Church was granted And the Roman Catholic Church was granted

rights not allowed back in Protestant Britain, rights not allowed back in Protestant Britain, including the right to raise money through tithes.including the right to raise money through tithes.

Quebec’s boundaries were Quebec’s boundaries were also greatly expanded to also greatly expanded to include the Ohio Valley include the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes. This and the Great Lakes. This was the heartland of the was the heartland of the old French fur trade.old French fur trade.

This greatly angered the This greatly angered the colonials in the American colonials in the American colonies. They saw this as colonies. They saw this as a reinstatement of New a reinstatement of New France in all but nameFrance in all but name

At the beginning of the revolution the Americans At the beginning of the revolution the Americans believed that if they marched on Canada, the believed that if they marched on Canada, the Canadians, both English and French, would rise Canadians, both English and French, would rise up to join them in expelling the British from North up to join them in expelling the British from North America.America.

This was not the case for different reasons in the This was not the case for different reasons in the two main British colonies that would become two main British colonies that would become Canada on the continent: Quebec (which included Canada on the continent: Quebec (which included Ontario) and Nova Scotia (which included New Ontario) and Nova Scotia (which included New Brunswick).Brunswick).

QuebecQuebec

The French in Quebec did not see the point The French in Quebec did not see the point in overthrowing one foreign ruler for anther. in overthrowing one foreign ruler for anther. Also, George Washington and his rebels Also, George Washington and his rebels had denounced both the Catholic Church had denounced both the Catholic Church and French law in their call to battle.and French law in their call to battle.

The English in Quebec had been thrilled The English in Quebec had been thrilled with the new land made available to them with the new land made available to them through the Quebec act and did not wish to through the Quebec act and did not wish to anger the British. They remained neutral.anger the British. They remained neutral.

Fall of Montreal and Siege of Fall of Montreal and Siege of QuebecQuebec

Wanting to prevent the Wanting to prevent the British from using British from using Canada as a base Canada as a base from which to attack from which to attack the American colonies, the American colonies, the Americans the Americans launched a two-launched a two-pronged attack into pronged attack into Canada to attack Canada to attack Montreal and Quebec Montreal and Quebec City.City.

Montreal fell and both Montreal fell and both American armies American armies converged on Quebec converged on Quebec City but the overland City but the overland trek was not easy and trek was not easy and half the men sent half the men sent straight to Quebec City straight to Quebec City under Benedict Arnold under Benedict Arnold had been lost either had been lost either though desertion, though desertion, disease or death.disease or death.

The siege of QuebecThe siege of Quebec

The Americans The Americans attacked the city after attacked the city after a siege of almost a a siege of almost a month but it was a month but it was a complete failure.complete failure.

400 Americans taken 400 Americans taken prisoner, 100 killed. prisoner, 100 killed. British forces lost 3 British forces lost 3 men.men.

British reinforcements British reinforcements arrived in the Spring arrived in the Spring and the Americans and the Americans retreated.retreated.

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia

Many historians have wondered why Nova Scotia Many historians have wondered why Nova Scotia did not join the revolution. Nova Scotians shared did not join the revolution. Nova Scotians shared the same resentment towards the British as the the same resentment towards the British as the rest of the colonies down the coast and half of the rest of the colonies down the coast and half of the population of Nova Scotia, 19,000, were settlers population of Nova Scotia, 19,000, were settlers from the American colonies.from the American colonies.

Both the Americans and the British fully expected Both the Americans and the British fully expected Nova Scotia to join the American colonies in Nova Scotia to join the American colonies in revolt.revolt.

However, except for two failed rebel campaigns in However, except for two failed rebel campaigns in Maugerville and in the Chignecto Isthmus, Nova Maugerville and in the Chignecto Isthmus, Nova Scotia remained loyal.Scotia remained loyal.

Possible reasons for Nova Scotian Possible reasons for Nova Scotian loyaltyloyalty

Nova Scotia’s Nova Scotia’s population was population was scattered across the scattered across the coast without any coast without any sense of political sense of political identity. Halifax was a identity. Halifax was a very strong British very strong British military base that military base that would have deterred would have deterred any armed rebellion.any armed rebellion.

American privateers raided Nova Scotia’s American privateers raided Nova Scotia’s coast in the name of liberty. Many Nova coast in the name of liberty. Many Nova Scotians who were neutral went over to the Scotians who were neutral went over to the British side. These were mostly wealthy British side. These were mostly wealthy Nova Scotians. Average fishermen could Nova Scotians. Average fishermen could just as easily been forced into the British just as easily been forced into the British Navy by “press gangs”Navy by “press gangs”

A spiritual revival had begun in Nova Scotia A spiritual revival had begun in Nova Scotia called “the Great Awakening”called “the Great Awakening”

It was lead by Henry Alline, known as the It was lead by Henry Alline, known as the Apostle of Nova Scotia.Apostle of Nova Scotia.

He preached neutrality in the war seeing it He preached neutrality in the war seeing it as a sign that the end was near as a result as a sign that the end was near as a result of this apocalyptic battle.of this apocalyptic battle.

Finally, one of the main reasons for revolt in Finally, one of the main reasons for revolt in the American colonies was removed in Nova the American colonies was removed in Nova Scotia when it’s governor, Francis Leggie, Scotia when it’s governor, Francis Leggie, removed an unpopular tax and suspended removed an unpopular tax and suspended compulsory militia service.compulsory militia service.

This pacified many Nova Scotians and kept This pacified many Nova Scotians and kept them loyal to Britain.them loyal to Britain.