How did the Quebec Act of 1774 protect French Canadian language and religion?

The Quebec Act of 1774 was a significant legislative measure by the British Parliament that secured the religious and legal foundations of French Canadian society.

Regarding religion, the act officially recognized the Roman Catholic Church and authorized it to continue collecting tithes from its members. Furthermore, it waived the Test Acts, which had previously barred Roman Catholics from public office, allowing them to participate in the administration of the province.12

While the act did not explicitly codify language rights in the modern sense, it legitimized the French civil law system, which functioned in the French language, and preserved the seigneurial system of land tenure. By establishing these protections, the act ensured that the cultural and social structures of the former French colony remained intact under British rule, eventually serving as a cornerstone for the preservation of French Canadian identity.12