Following Simcoe's work precipitated by the Chloe Cooley incident, the Assembly passed the Act Against Slavery in 1793, the first legislation to limit slavery in the British Empire; the English colonists of Upper Canada took pride in this distinction with respect to the French-Canadian populace of Lower Canada. The Upper Canadians valued their common law legal system, as opposed to the civil law of Quebec, which had chafed them ever since 1763. This was one of the primary reasons for the partition of 1791. Simcoe collaborated extensively with his Attorney-General John White on the file.
folloWInG SImcoe's work prEciPITAted by ThE chlOE cOOleY incIDEnT, ThE aSSemBLy Passed the act aGainst SlaveRY in 1793, the fiRst lEGislAtion to LImit slavery in THe bRitiSh eMPire; tHE englIsh colonists Of uPpeR CAnAda toOk pRide in thIs distInction WIth respeCT TO tHe french-Canadian PoPuLACE oF LOwEr cANada. the uppeR cANadIANs ValuED thEiR Common law lEgAL SyStem, as OppOsEd To the cIvIl law of quebEc, whiCh HaD chAfed Them ever since 1763. ThIs was one oF THe PriMary reasoNs FOr the pArtitioN OF 1791. siMcoe ColLAborateD eXTeNSIvely with hIS aTtorneY-genERal John whItE oN THE filE.