June 22, 1774

Parliament Passes Quebec Act

The Quebec Act creates a civil governmental system in Canada with a legislative council appointed by the King primarily responsible for local taxation (all other authority was reserved to Parliament), civil cases were to be tried without a jury, and Roman Catholics were granted freedom of conscience. Because of its timing and provisions that seemed designed to inflame some colonial sensibilities, the Quebec Act has been mistakenly considered among the Coercive Acts. It caused very little consternation in colonies outside of New England and almost none in Virginia.