The French had made Canada a base for attempts to drive the English from North America.

During many decades war had raged along the Canadian frontier.

With the cession of Canada to Britain in 1763 this danger had vanished.

The old habit endured, however, of fear of Canada.

When, in 1774, the British Parliament passed the bill for the government of Canada known as the Quebec Act, there was violent clamor.
The measure was assumed to be a calculated threat against colonial liberty.