Quebec Act

Continental Congress Appeals to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, October 26, 1774

May 23, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Continental Congress October 26, 1774 Just five days after complaining that Britain, through the Quebec Act, was giving too much freedom to Canadian Catholics, the Continental Congress flip-flopped and issued this message to curry favor with the Catholics to the north. After cataloguing the many rights and privileges accorded colonists, the Congress asked, “What is offered to you by the late Act of Parliament in their place? Liberty of conscience in your religion? No. God gave it to you.” Friends…

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Continental Congress, Declaration and Resolves, October 14, 1774

May 23, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Continental Congress October 14, 1774 In describing the colonies’ grievances, the Continental Congress cited the Quebec Act, which gave religious freedom to Catholics In Canada. Also the act passed in the same session for establishing the Roman Catholic religion, in the province of Quebec, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting a tyranny there, to the great danger (from so total a dissimilarity of religion, law and government) of the neighbouring British colonies, by the assistance of whose…

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The Articles of Association, Continental Congress, October 20, 1774

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

The Continental Congress October 20, 1774 In this declaration resolved to boycott British tea and launch several other acts of protest. Unlike the later Declaration of Independence, these articles (In the preamble) specifically cite the Quebec Act, which many patriots criticized for allowing religious freedom for Catholics In Quebec. They feared the Catholics would lead a charge against the Protestant colonies: “thus, by the influence of civil principles and ancient prejudices, to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against…

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Message from the Continental Congress to the People of Great Britain, October 21, 1774

May 22, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Congress October 21, 1774 Congress virulently attacked Great Britain’s Quebec Act, which gave religious freedom to Catholics In Canada. The Continental Congress expressed “astonishment, that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in that country a religion that has deluged your island in blood, and dispersed bigotry, persecution, murder and rebellion through every part of the world.” Congress soon thereafter realized that Insulting the Canadian Catholics might not be the best way to win their favor or that of…

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