The Legacies of Fear: Law and Politics in Quebec in the Era of the French Revol

University of Toronto Press

Explore the complex interplay of law and politics in Quebec during the tumultuous era of the French Revolution in "The Legacies of Fear." This insightful book by F. Murray Greenwood meticulously re-creates a Quebec where trust between French and English Canadians was shattered by the revolution's radical turn. Discover how fears of invasion led to draconian legislation and an efficient counter-intelligence service, transforming Lower Canada into a hotbed of espionage, marked by the high-profile treason trial of an American agent. Greenwood places the legal history of Quebec at the forefront of these dangerous events, revealing this period as a critical turning point that profoundly altered not only French-English relations but also Canada's legal and constitutional inheritance. While focusing on legal and political history, the narrative also delves into intellectual, military, social, and economic developments, examining themes such as working-class riots in the 1790s, judicial behavior during security matters, the establishment of the first formal counter-intelligence service, and the suspension of habeas corpus. F. Murray Greenwood, a distinguished legal historian, brings extensive documentation and a wide perspective to bear on this formative and often overlooked period in Canadian history, offering new evidence and profound insights. Product Summary: The Legacies of Fear: Law and Politics in Quebec in the Era of the French Revolution by F. Murray Greenwood, University of Toronto Press. A historical analysis of legal and political events in Quebec during the French Revolution, examining French-English relations, counter-intelligence, and constitutional inheritance. Features 392 pages, English language version.