Lord Elgin Comes To Town

1. Lord Elgin Comes To Town Mr. Saunders Socials 10

2. The New Governor General • In 1846 Lord Elgin (Lord Durham’s son-in-law) was appointed as Canada’s new Governor General. • He agreed that the colonies should be allowed to govern themselves and believed in the idea of responsible government.

3. The Election of 1848 • This election saw more Reformers elected into the assembly then Tories. • Lord Elgin then asked Reformer leaders Robert Baldwin (West) and Louis Lafontaine (East) to recommend which elected officials should advise him. • Mostly Reformers were chosen, and Elgin promised to take their advice as long as the Reformers held a majority government. • Responsible government has finally arrived!!!

4. Rebellion Losses Bill • In 1849 this bill proposed that money should be paid to those whose property had been damaged in the Rebellion of Lower Canada. • Upper Canada received a similar kind of compensation for homes, barns, fences, livestock etc. • The Tories of Lower Canada were against this bill, feeling that the rebels shouldn’t be rewarded for their actions against the Tories and that a rebellion may happen again. • The bill was eventually passed by the Reformer majority, and it was sent to Lord Elgin to sign.

5. Elgin’s Dilemma • Lord Elgin knew deep down that the Rebellion Losses Bill would cause a lot of problems between the Reformers and Tories. • However, he remembered that he had to support the Reformers as they held the majority government. • Elgin was concerned for his safety, and the safety of his wife and unborn child. His wife was Lord Durham’s daughter, and she strongly supported the Reformer majority.

6. Elgin’s Decision • Lord Elgin signed the bill as soon as it was handed to him. • A large group of people had been waiting outside for the result, and upon hearing that Elgin had indeed signed the bill the crowd turned nasty. • When Lord Elgin left the parliament buildings the crowd started throwing rocks and eggs at him. Elgin escaped with no injury except his carriage. • The protestors then proceeded to break windows and burn down the parliament buildings. Members of Parliament barely escaped with their lives.

7. Parliament Burning

8. Aftermath • Lord Elgin returned to Montreal five days later. • Upon arrival his carriage was attacked by the Tories. This was a stark contrast to the reaction Governor Bond Head received while returning to Montreal in 1837. • This meant that Elgin had now twice risked his life for responsible government. The angry mobs once again threw rocks and bricks at the Governor General’s carriage. • Elgin never had his carriage repaired. He wanted people to see it and for it to serve as a reminder of the price of responsible government.

9. Elgin’s Carriage

10. Road to Responsible Government • It’s been a long road to Responsible Government, and it hasn’t been easy up to this point, nor will it be from here on in. • If it weren’t for these actions and sacrifices we may not have the system of democracy that we have today. • For next class I’d like to see some sort of a timeline (written on paper) that shows the chronological progression towards Responsible Government, starting with the Rebellions and ending with the Rebellion Losses Bill. Use your notes!!!