Affects on Montreal
In Montreal, after the French and Indian War, General Gage became the first British governor and proclaimed the Treaty of Paris on May 17th, 1763. The British merchants in Montreal at the time were delighted by this news, believing it was better for them to rule solely than the French Canadians they looked down upon. Even though there were only around 200 British in Canada at the time, many took positions in the government due to the oath government positions required. This oath essentially banned French Roman Catholics from the government. Thus inevitable conflict began between this new regime of British and the old. The old regime had been under military law, where the French Canadians had been entrusted with a share of the government. The French Canadian clergy and Seigneurs of Montreal looked upon this new change of government as an attempt to Anglicize their religon and laws. Overall this oath was an attempt to suppress the growth of the Catholic church in Canada. The inevitable struggle between the British and Canadians would eventually culminate into the Quebec act of 1774, the Magna Charta of French Canadians.
In Montreal the law courts were changed similar to Quebec. There would be a yearly session of the King's court and the court of Common Pleas, and quarter sessions held by justices of the peace. Also Montreal's economy would continue to be dependent on the fur trade. However, over the years after 1760, the French Canadian merchants would slowly be replaced by Scots. This is because Canadian merchants were no longer granted transportation contracts or the financing they needed for large expeditions. In 1776 the North West Company would control the fur trade.
In summary, British expansion into Montreal caused many things similar to that of Quebec. A new government was installed under the British. Along with this Catholics were essentially banned from entering the government due to the requirement of an oath, leading to conflict resulting in the Quebec Act. However, there was a gradual rehaul in the French fur trade over the years after 1760. This all would never have happened without British expansion.
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