Rethinking the Quebec Act

Rethinking the Quebec Act The article â€Å"No King unless It Be a Constitutional King: Rethinking the Place of the Quebec Act in the Coming of the American Revolution† by Vernon Creviston published in the Fall of 2011 in Historian discusses the implications of the Quebec Act of 1774 for the American colonies and the impact of this legislation upon the American revolution.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rethinking the Quebec Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Discussing the main components of the Quebec Act, including those of restrictions of the civil and religious liberties and reorganization of the local government, the author places a special emphasis upon the changes in the public attitude towards George III and the British Empire in general. The author of the article provides specific examples of the open letters criticizing the tyranny of the monarch and the system of government. Moreover, Creviston viewed the Quebec Act as a tool used by American patriots for determining the loyalty of their compatriots (Creviston 477). Drawing the conclusion that the monarchy was transferred to villainy, the Americans argued that the actions of the British monarch in general and the Quebec Act in particular were a threat to American liberty. Going even further, the reaction to the Quebec Act led to considering the previously unthinkable idea of complete separation from the British Empire. The issues raised in this article are relevant to the class discussion and valuable for understanding the wide range of implications of the Quebec Act for the colonial territories and their role in strengthening the patriotic movements among Americans. Viewing the implications of the Quebec Act in their historical context, the author analyzes the consequences of restricting the civil, economical and religious liberties of Americans. Discussing the cases of Marylander William Edminston and New Yorker John, Creviston provides historica l evidence to demonstrate the development and growth of the patriotic movement which was not limited by territorial boundaries and spread throughout the American colonies. Therefore, Creviston concluded that the Quebec Act was an important predictor of American Revolution. Creviston, Vernon. â€Å"No King unless It Be a Constitutional King: Rethinking the Place of the Quebec Act in the Coming of the American Revolution.† Historian 73.3 (2011): 463 – 479. Web.