Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Why were colonists so alarmed by a law passed in Canada?

In Grievance #20 of the Declaration of Independence, Dallas Terry from the Kinder Institute at the University of Missouri explains why the Quebec Act of 1774 deeply worried many Americans.

The act expanded Quebec’s territory, replaced English common law with French civil law, and created a government that colonists believed lacked meaningful representation.

For many Americans, the biggest issue was proximity. Arbitrary government felt far more dangerous when it existed right next door.

Colonial leaders feared that if Parliament could establish this kind of system in Quebec, similar policies could eventually spread into the American colonies themselves.

The grievance also reflected anxieties over westward expansion, political power, and the future direction of liberty in North America.

This is Part 20 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

Explore more:
billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-day

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