An Act of Paranoia: A Timeline

Cousteau, Arthur. The American Powerhouse: How it all Began (2002): “The start of the American Revolution was due to constant British domination on trade and goods, as is credited from American sources. Many acts were passed, creating a monopoly of Britain in the region, and removing the rights from the people. After the UK won the Seven Years’ War, beating out France and gaining Quebec, The Proclamation of 1763 was passed. (read more on page 29). The American people were livid at this, because many had bought land which was made into Indian Territory soon after. Things like the Sugar Act of 1764 (page 34), the Stamp Act of 1765 (page 37), and the Quartering Act of 1765 (page 38) were all major contributors to unrest in what would one day become the USA and Quebec. The colonies in the lower part of the Americas were terribly dissatisfied, but the Quebecers had even more reason to be. In 1774, the Quebec Act was turned down in a stunning move by Parliament. Protests shook British Canada, but George Grenville, PM of Britain at the time, claimed that it would all blow over in the end. People knew it wouldn’t, but who was to argue with the leader of Britain? King George III didn’t have much of a say in the matter, and grew ever more paranoid at the unrest.”

Welcome to my new America TL! The main PoD of this project is that the Quebec Act was never passed. Yes, I know it's an overused PoD, but I warn you that this will not be any normal Quebec TL. A bit of a shitsack, I do say. And I'm not working on this alone. I'm getting help from user LightningLynx89, who will also be writing and posting some parts on here. This is our first timeline here, so constructive criticism would be nice! Hope you guys enjoy!

EDIT: We're also planning to have the second update (a longer one this time) up later tonight, just to give a little more into this.

EDIT 2: Second update up!

New Post! Note that the first two excepts were made by LightningLynx89.

Alden, Hammond. Sun Rise Over Britannia (2010): “The defeat of the Quebec Act can be traced back as one of Great Britain’s greatest mistakes it has ever made. The effects were felt immediately as the entire parliament was split, passing blame on one another. Nobody wanting to be known as the one who allowed the act not to be passed. Many people, however, felt that the Quebecois people were enemies, as the French has been two decades before. They also didn’t want to be the ones to give in to the demands of people living across an ocean. When news of the defeat of the Quebec Act reached the colonies in the New World, in an instance riots and mobs had broken out across the colonies; from Boston, to Philadelphia, and all to way into Quebec. The local Quebecois had assembled outside the town hall of Montreal, demanding that they have a direct line to the parliament to air their grievances. A division of British soldiers created a makeshift defense around the town hall, in case of the worst possible outcome. What occurred next varies from who you ask across the world. Some accounts saying that blood thirsty crowd had began to throw stones and garbage at the British division. Others saying that the British division had opened fire upon the crowd by order of their leading officer. In either scenario 10 people were shot and killed amongst the crowd, while various others injured. After the crowd had dispersed warrants for those amongst the crowds had been sent out, ordering the arrest for these rebelling Quebecois. Either way, most people believe it to be closely resembling the Boston Massacre just a few years earlier.”

Miller, Alexander. Rise of a Nation (2007): “Printing presses across the colonial United States was selling better than anything printed at the time beforehand. Americans were reading the recent story of the British soldiers firing on innocent protesters in Montreal, after the defeat of the Quebec Act in the British Parliament. Many citizens saw this as a reason to declare their independence from their parenting country that ruled them from across the ocean. They were willing to fire upon their own people when they disagreed or even questioned their government. Many outspoken advocates of American independence began harkening back to the Boston Massacre just six years prior. None was more outspoken than local Bostonian Samuel Adams, who began advocating publicly against the British government and their inability to ‘run a country correctly.’ His continuous campaign of releasing press issues and propaganda, reached a fever pitch in Boston. As the spirit of American Patriotism grew everyday, not just in Boston, across the entire colonies, and even in Quebec; where they were tired of being treated second class to the English-Canadians. Word would reach King George III ear, as reports of flyers spurring the idea of American Independence from the home country began to become common talk among the people. The people of the colonies would later know how it felt to lose their freedoms as British soldiers began occupying the main cities that spurred the revolutionary spirit.”

Richardson, Dean. A World Un-United (1989): “Nova Scotia was a serious issue in the colonies. After realizing that Quebec was basically a lost cause after the rejection of the Quebec Act, Britain focused on keeping the region safe from protests. British troops were sent into the major port cities, and the provinces were considered to have been “secured”. After the revolution broke out less than a year later, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would be the only places that the British were able to hold the entire war, besides the Canadian provinces in the west.”


The world at the breakout of the Revolutionary War in 1775. Also, feel free to provide suggestions!

Nice intro! I'll be following this...

Parker, John. Journal of John Parker: Captain of the First Battle of the Revolution (April 19, 1775): “I ... ordered our Militia to meet on the Common in said Lexington to consult what to do, and concluded not to be discovered, nor meddle or make with said Regular Troops (if they should approach) unless they should insult or molest us; and, upon their sudden Approach, I immediately ordered our Militia to disperse, and not to fire:—Immediately said Troops made their appearance and rushed furiously, fired upon, and killed eight of our Party without receiving any Provocation therefor from us.”


The New England Courant, Battle of Montreal (July 26, 1775): “WAR LOOMING IN BRITISH QUEBEC: In Montreal two days ago, many Quebecois Patriots got into a large battle with British soldiers sent in to quell their protests. While the so-called “Revolution” has started here months ago, the Battle of Montreal is considered to be the first major battle in what was once the French region of Quebec. Casualties are estimated to be low for both sides, with the Patriots losing around 50 soldiers and the British losing around 35. We are still counting this as a Patriot win for various reasons.” (Translated to modern-day English for easier reading)


Vincent, Géraud. Quebecois the Proud (2000): “With word of the Declaration of Independence being made official reached Quebec many of those who still felt slighted by their British rulers believed that this was their chance to become independent and free of their British masters, just as the American revolutionaries wanted. A messenger was sent to Philadelphia to ask for a possible transcript for the Declaration, so they could use it to model their own declaration of independence. Hector Theophilus de Cramahé, the current Governor of Quebec at the time was smart enough to write his declaration in secret along with other elites of Quebec. On August 19, 1776; over a whole year into the American’s quest for independence, Cramahé sent his own declaration to King George III, the declaration called being title 'Les articles de la liberte du Quebec. Though Cramahé was smart enough to begin secretly recruiting citizens for the milita. Appointing former Governor of Quebec, Lieutenant Paulus Aemilius Irving, as his chief and commander to lead the militia and potential army to lead his revolutionary forces to victory.”


Miller, Alexander. Rise of a Nation (2007): “The shot heard around the world was one of the most significant moments in American history, had Francis Smith’s soldiers not fired upon Parker’s men, I believe the United States would not be seen as the nation fighting for it’s freedom. Had Parker ordered his men to fire upon the redcoats, then the States would have been seen as the nation willing to fire upon unsuspecting soldiers coming just down the road. That shot heard around the world helped further spark the further need for those patriots to take up arms and join the cause. That instilled a fear among the colonist that we need to stand up to these men, because they are willing to fire upon us without remorse. That’s what the patriots thought, whether that idea was good or not, it sure helped the militia and armies recruitment.”


World Map in August of 1776, After Quebec's decree of freedom.

I'll be proudly joining An Act of Paranoia as the 3rd Author, can't wait to see this timeline take off.

Upvoteanthology said:

Cousteau, Arthur. The American Powerhouse: How it all Began (2002): “The start of the American Revolution was due to constant British domination on trade and goods, as is credited from American sources. Many acts were passed, creating a monopoly of Britain in the region, and removing the rights from the people. After the UK won the Seven Years’ War, beating out France and gaining Quebec, The Proclamation of 1763 was passed. (read more on page 29). The American people were livid at this, because many had bought land which was made into Indian Territory soon after. Things like the Sugar Act of 1764 (page 34), the Stamp Act of 1765 (page 37), and the Quartering Act of 1765 (page 38) were all major contributors to unrest in what would one day become the USA and Quebec. The colonies in the lower part of the Americas were terribly dissatisfied, but the Quebecers had even more reason to be. In 1774, the Quebec Act was turned down in a stunning move by Parliament. Protests shook British Canada, but George Grenville, PM of Britain at the time, claimed that it would all blow over in the end. People knew it wouldn’t, but who was to argue with the leader of Britain? King George III didn’t have much of a say in the matter, and grew ever more paranoid at the unrest.”

Welcome to my new America TL! The main PoD of this project is that the Quebec Act was never passed. Yes, I know it's an overused PoD, but I warn you that this will not be any normal Quebec TL. A bit of a shitsack, I do say. And I'm not working on this alone. I'm getting help from user LightningLynx89, who will also be writing and posting some parts on here. This is our first timeline here, so constructive criticism would be nice! Hope you guys enjoy!

EDIT: We're also planning to have the second update (a longer one this time) up later tonight, just to give a little more into this.

EDIT 2: Second update up!

Click to expand...

I thought it was Lord North who was Prime Minister at the time rather than Grenville. Digression aside, I could totally see this paving the way for a general Quebecois-led insurrection against the British, possibly even resulting in the formation of a tentative Quebecois-American Union of Colonies should events get out of hand and the Americans get into the whole mix. Otherwise, if the Quebecois were to secede and fight the British unilaterally, I doubt they would have gotten far, considering the American colonies, which were much more populated than Canada, barely did prior to 1777. Unless France formally intervened...

BobtheSaget said:

I thought it was Lord North who was Prime Minister at the time rather than Grenville. Digression aside, I could totally see this paving the way for a general Quebecois-led insurrection against the British, possibly even resulting in the formation of a tentative Quebecois-American Union of Colonies should events get out of hand and the Americans get into the whole mix. Otherwise, if the Quebecois were to secede and fight the British unilaterally, I doubt they would have gotten far, considering the American colonies, which were much more populated than Canada, barely did prior to 1777. Unless France formally intervened...

Click to expand...

Well he already said that America had revolted.