In the Province of Quebec
The colonies that had land in the West had almost as much trouble in keeping off the encroachments of Great Britain as they had of France. It was but nat- ural that they should think that the French and Indian war was for the purpose of quieting the claims of the colonies over against France. In this, however, they were mistaken. England does not do things that way. They forbade the colonies to make settlements on these lands. Virginia and Pennsylvania were not inclined to obey. Parliament, therefore, to stop the encroach- ments, passed what is known as the Quebec Act. This act made all the land in what is now known as the Northwest Territory a part of the territory of Quebec. Thus Perry County was a second time a part of Can- ada, ruled by a Governor General. The colonists did not like it very well and Virginia paid but little atten- tion to it and never in her own mind thought that it ever belonged to anybody but herself. England's ob- ject in this was to keep down the growing power of the colonies, and by having this vast region a part of Can- ada, they hoped to maintain the Indians' allegiance, which they did to a certain extent. This action of62
George the Third was considered of such importance that in the Declaration of Independence it was made one of the grievances.63