How Did The American Revolution Affect Canada

The thirty-two years between 1759 and 1791 serve to be the most important and defining period in Canadian history. It is during this time when the British conquest of New France occurs, the Quebec Act comes into effect and the first step towards Canadian confederation is taken with the proclamation of the Constitutional Act. It is also during this time when the American Revolution takes place and essentially results in the creation of two countries: the United States of America and Canada. The Revolution triggers the mass exodus of more than 80,000 refugees out of the Thirteen Colonies, half of who migrate primarily into Quebec, the Maritimes and Ontario. The influx of the United Empire Loyalists immediately boosts Canada’s population and forever

The American Revolution is the result of a series of social, political, and intellectual changes in American society. It is triggered by a number of legendary ‘intolerable acts’ in the context of the American mindset, manifest destiny. The Quebec Act, the Magna Carta of the French Canadians, is perhaps the most intolerable of these acts, one that produces the extreme and powerful American reaction - revolt. Intended to secure the allegiance of the Quebecois and to frighten off the Americans from engulfing Quebec, Sir Guy Carleton, the Governor of Quebec and Governor General of British North America, convinces the British to establish provisions that allow for its citizens’ and colony’s security. The Act, proclaimed in 1774 and effective in May 1775, expands and secures the boundaries of Quebec, restores French civil law and maintains an appointed British government. Most importantly, it also guarantees religious toleration, effectively proclaiming the legitimacy of difference for the Quebecois while maintaining allegiance to the British Crown. They are able to be British without being English. The enraged Americans, who believe their nation to have a God-given, obvious duty to expand and control even in blood and fire, view these provisions as

They bring with them the English language and culture, one that expands and solidifies Canada’s predominantly bilingual and bi-national identity in the midst of the existing Quebecois culture. They establish English schools, newspapers and social organizations that reflect the British culture, and set up the Anglican Church in Canada, the first of many Protestant churches to come. They are successful in convincing the British government to divide Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada and to Upper Canada they bring their ideas about freehold land ownership, systematic planning of townships and representative government. United in their distrust of the Americans, they adopt the term ‘Canadian,’ a term once reserved for the francophone population but now one that marks the conversion of ‘British’ immigrants to ‘Canadians’, a term that is still used today. Their varied nationalities are also instrumental in creating the foundation for the pluralistic and multi-ethnic Canada that is foundational to its identity. The result of the Loyalists’ impact on Canada is the creation of a bilingual society in which cultural diversity, religious freedom, educational opportunity and social equity are valued and necessary for social cohesion and the common