Colonial Government

1. Colonial Government A Need for Reform List of Grievances The Situation in Lower Canada Rebellion and Reform

2. Representative Government • A government made up of people who are elected by voters to make laws on their behalf • We vote in who we want to represent our needs in government* • Example Vancouver Island Elizabeth May

3. Responsible Government • Governments that can be voted out if elected representatives fail to please a majority of the people who elected them • Governments are responsible for fulfilling our needs , so if they fail we vote them out! • Vote of Non- Confidence

5. Why are they Important? • They form the cornerstones of Democracy • Democracy on paper! • Who was really in control?

6. Early Colonial Government • Colonial governments were indirectly run form Britain • Britain appointed a Governor but he ruled according to what the Oligarchy demanded • This policy put power in the hands of the Oligarchy who ran the government in Upper and Lower Canada • No Representative or Responsible Government

7. What is an Oligarchy? • A small group of ruling elite • Family Compact or Chateau Clique • A small group of wealthy and influential men • Upper class officials in Upper/Lower Canada who made up the Executive Council • Controlled the government, government jobs, and spending of tax money

8. Oligarchies Exist Today! • They are just not talked about as much • The illusion of democracy • Control politics and economics • 1% of the population controls 99% of the wealth and power

9. Upper Canada 1791 • 1791 The Constitution Act established the government of Upper Canada • Divided Upper and Lower Canada • Gave an elected law- making Legislative Assembly, a governor, and 2 councils (oligarchy) made up the government

10. Elected Legislative Assembly gave the illusion of democracy • Every property owning male could vote BUT • Governor and 2 councils (executive) he appointed had all the power • Any law the Elected Legislative Assembly tried to pass could be vetoed by the other branches of government (Governor or Executive 2 councils)

12. William Lyon Mackenzie “The most extraordinary collection of sturdy beggars, parsons, priest, pensioners, army people, navy people, place-men, bank directors, and stock and land jobbers ever established to operate as a paltry screen to a rotten government”

13. List of Grievances in Upper Canada • Land- overpriced, good land gone, Family Compact dominated land ownership, crown and clergy reserve land blocked road construction • Roads- wanted more roads and better quality roads • Government- upset with policies and structure (oligarchy)

14. Robert Gourley(1778-1863) • Land Agent who attempted to bring about reforms in the system of land ownership in early-19th-century Upper Canada • surveyed farmers about their life in Upper Canada • Discovered many extremely upset with the government

15. Robert Gourley continued • He drew up the list of grievances and petitioned the government to change • The result- he was arrested and sent out of the colony • Important because • it shows you the government power over people and policies • Shows that the government does not care what people want

16. The Colonial Advocate • William Lyon Mackenzie’s newspaper • Published articles that criticized the government and the Family Compact • Family Compact retaliation • Burned office and printing press

17. Mackenzie Fights Back • Sued! • He wanted radical change • 1812 Elected to the Legislative Assembly • Led the reform movement in Upper Canada

18. Problems in Lower Canada • Ruling class was English BUT • The majority of people were French • French population feared the loss of their • Language • Religion • culture

19. American Revolution’s Impact on Lower Canada • Exposed Lower Canadians to the democratic ideas of the French and American Revolution • French Canadians identify with Americans • Despise British Rule

20. Power In Lower Canada • English Speaking Minority held all the power • Those who control the money control the power • ¼ of the population • Think like the Godfather “First you get the money, then you get the women, then you get the power”

21. The Threat of a Union • In 1822 an attempt to unify Upper and Lower Canada under English rule and language threatened French speaking colonists

22. Land, Farming and Debt in Lower Canada • Increased immigration and settlement of farmers overworked the soil • Soil became less fertile • Wheat crops failed • Failed crops led to an economic deficit • More spending than income • Farmers went broke • Many took jobs in the forest industry • Many upset!

23. Nationalism • A devotion to your culture and country • The Olympics! • What about colonists?

24. Reform Movement in Lower Canada • Main Focus • To protect French Culture and heritage from English assimilation • Why? • Britain encourages English settlement to phase out “French Problem” • Conspiracy theory Cholera Epidemic 1832 • French thought this was planned to wipe out French population

25. Reform Movement In Lower Canada • Main Grievances • Discrimination against French Schools • Lack of Representation in Government • Taxes (No taxation without representation) • Schools in Lower Canada • These 4 points all connect to a need to protect French Culture

26. Louis Joseph Papineau • Leader of Radical Reformers in Lower Canada • Also a Lawyer • Initially optimistic about British rule • Disagreed about British controlling all power • Became the leader of the PartiCanadien - Lobbied for Reform

27. Ninety-Two Resolutions • What forced Papineau to Submit this to the Governor? • Fear of an unfair union 1822 • British soldiers shot protestors on Montreal • After 30 years of legal attempts to reform, Papineau and his patriots rebelled against the government