Canadian Studies
Question #1
In 1774 the British Government passed the Quebec Act, as a rule, to establish their control and exert their power over the Quebec province. The legislation was passed since the British were afraid that the French Canadians’ rebellion would influence the political affairs in their colony.
The Act made several provisions. The first extended the region’s boundaries to expand the size of the colony, allowing it to be at least three times as large as the original colony. The expansion meant that the British increased the area under their control.
Under the catholic leaders did not have to renounce their faith to run for office. Previously the oaths were protestant based limiting the political freedom of the people. The provision let Catholics off the hook since the people were allowed religious freedom.
The Act allowed people to generate income since landowners were allowed to pass their property to other people following the state’s laws, allowing the subjects of the British government to have economic freedom. The legislative council was allowed to collect taxes.
Though the Act did not offer full freedom, it benefited the Catholics by ensuring tolerance from others, and their priests could collect tithe to fund their activities. The provision of land ownership benefited business people and intuitions since they could set up operations bases without fear of repossession.
Though most of the Act’s provisions were tolerable to the Canadians, the 13 American colonies considered the lack of representation intolerable. They wanted a government system that allowed the people to participate in the development of policies and systems by allowing representatives of the people in the government. The colonies considered the Act an invasion of their government and political freedom, causing divisions that eventually led to war.
Question #2
After the passing of the British North America Act, the British retained some control in Canada. The British government knew that by insisting the Canadian parliament’s laws pass through their parliament, they could control the legal and political activities of their colony. The British’s control was consolidated by holding the defenses since having military control offered them a resource advantage. Additionally, the Canadians could not participate in a war against Britain because Canada would have no defense since it belonged to someone else. Any nation requires partnerships with other states. Thus, the British control over Canada’s foreign relations allowed them to protect their industries and businesses from competition other partners would propose.
In 1931 Canada acquired the powers they had lost through a British act of parliament known as the Statute of Westminster. The Act recognized Canada’s position as self-government and created a legal pathway that absolved the United Kingdom’s power over the dominions by rendering them independent and equal to the UK. However, the Act did not allow the British to relinquish their control since the constitution of 1867 was still in use. Through an act of parliament in 1982, Canada attained total independence since the parliament fully patriated its constitution.
The British required Royal Assent of Canadian laws. Royal Assent works by having a superior and sovereign authority approve a bill into law. The bills require to meet a certain threshold to get into the final stage, and the house of the ordinary can grant the laws or dismiss them. In North America, Canada was required to have royal assets since, without the control, they would have joined the revolution and crippled the British position.