REBELLIONS UPPER & LOWER CANADA 1837 & 1838

REBELLIONSUPPER & LOWER CANADA1837 & 1838 Key Events In Canadian HistoryWhich influenced The Nation We Have Today

Upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie The Reformers Vs. Family Compact Lower Canada Louis Joseph Papineau The Patriots Vs. Chateau Clique Rebellionsof • Protesting against the Oligarchies control • Desired a Responsible Government • Wanted less Church control • Assembly had to approve taxes or no collection would occur

What are they upset about prior to the Rebellions? A lack of democracy!!!!! They wanted “Responsible Government”

Responsible Government Historical Origins of Responsible Government • In reality, Constitutional Act 1791 creates system of Irresponsible government • Governor appoints Executive Council (i.e., Cabinet) • Executive Council supported by appointed Legislative Council • Legislative Council dominated by Family Compact (Upper Canada) & Chateau Clique (Lower Canada) • Elected Legislative Assembly by-passed – despite its constitutional power to levy taxes and grant supply

Irresponsibile Government A lack of democracy! “Irresponsible Govt” Governor General Governor General Appoints Executive Council ; carries out Governor’s instructions & advises Governor (who may ignore their advice) Legislative Council (Appointed) Executive Council (Advisory) Legislative Assembly (Elected)

Upper Canada (Ontario) • William Lyon Mackenzie led the Reformers against the Family Compact • Did not support the Constitution Act of 1791 • Believed in responsible govt. • Demanded 2 constitutional reforms • Elected Legislative Council • Executive council responsible to Assembly • Reformers were against • Clergy land reserves • Land grants to the oligarchies, • Influence of the Church of England • Power of the Banks

Colony had elected Assembly representatives from each district Would make plans for colony but would need approval of Governor & Councils Governor appointed Executive & Legislative Councils from ‘Upper Class’, & weren’t bound to follow wishes of the people Real power was in the hand of the Governor & Councils, the people had no REAL influence Governance in the Colony

The Governors • British men appointed by English monarch • Unfamiliar with local issues & conditions • Depended on the advice of their councils • Usually United Empire Loyalists • Were wealthy & better educated so better able to govern ordinary people

Upper Canada - problems • The way the colony was governed (appointed rather than elected) • Land – unfair way the land was granted (best land given to family compact & Clergy – often left uncleared & undeveloped) • Transportation – roads were inadequate. Money was spent on canal building (which benefited the merchants – Family Compact)

Special Privileges for a Few • Governor appointed all officials • Councils, judges, sheriffs, justice of peace • Coroners, customs officers, postal officials, immigration officers & Indian Affairs officials • As head of military he appointed 1500 officers • Made land grants & spent crown $ for pensions to friends • Good jobs to Family Compact & friends

LandIssues • Best land given to Family Compact/friends • Exec & Leg Councilors controlled 90% of land, not farmed, would sell for a profit • 1/7 of land went to Anglican Church, not other religions though (clergy reserves) • New settlers received only poor, uncleared farmland

Land Concessions Scattered non-farming land stops progress. They are left treed and undeveloped. CLERGY Government land reserve

Transportation Issues • Farmers needed roads to get to/from markets • Most were impassable • Govt. collected taxes to build canals, mainly used to benefit merchants & Family Compact/friends • Farmers felt govt. did not grant land/$ to them for land/tools • Bankers & merchants grew rich…

What Happened in the Rebellion? The rebellion failed. Rebels (more than 1000) were forced to march to Toronto and placed in unheated jails with little food. Many died. • Those who followed orders went free • 2 ringleaders were hanged • Many transported to Bermuda/Australia • Mackenzie flees to the US

Lower Canada - Problems • Farmers were against building canals and harbours that would benefit merchants • English Immigrants • The English (Chateau Clique) dominated the government • The laws could be vetoed by the Legislative Council, the Executive Council, and the British appointed governor • The members of the Councils we appointed for life, the could not be voted out at election time • Members appointed by the governor were usually English speaking • French speaking Habitants concerns never represented

Chateau Clique • Small group of powerful business people • British background • Believed they should hold all the power • Wanted the Anglican Church to stay powerful • Wanted more English speaking settlers in the colony

PartiPatriote • Wanted French ways to remain • Leader – Louis Joseph Papineau • Favoured traditional R/C society • Resented English favouritism • Land issues

Lower Canada(Quebec) • Louis-Joseph Papineau led the Patriots against the governor & the Chateau Clique, & loss of land to growing Anglophone population • Cultural conflict between French & English Cdns. • Fr. dominated the Assembly, was controlled by the Br. Councils • Created the 92 Resolutions • Some wanted USA Republic system

What Happened? The rebellion failed. • Colony was under martial law • Elected assemblies disappeared for 3 years • 12 rebels were hanged • 58 sent in chains to Australia • Papineau & others fled to U.S. under threat of execution.

Consequences of Rebellion • Rebellion Losses Bill • Led to the Durham Report of the 1840’s • French Assimilation into English Canada • Act of Union unites the ‘two’ Canadas • Achievement of Responsible Government • Led to Confederation in the 1860’s

Lord Durham’s Report • Durham's Recommendations • to unite Upper and Lower Canada to make the French a minority • to assimilate or anglicize the French majority in Lower Canada • to grant responsible government • Consequences of Durham's Recommendations • Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1840 • Responsible government was granted in 1848 leading to Confederation in 1867 • Created the roots of today’s French ‘separatism’

Rebellions Losses Bill1849 • Reformers controlled the Assembly, their bill; • sought to compensate those in what had been Lower Canada for damages that resulted from the rebellions. • was controversial because the Tories objected that many of the claimants were former rebels who were against the Crown. • was well received by French Canadians, but British elements opposed it so strongly that they attacked Elgin and burned the parliament building down in Montreal.

Confederation 1867 • The Province of Canada, (Ontario & Quebec) New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. • A system based on British Parliament • Proposed limited central government balanced by provincial power. • Rejected the strict application of "rep by pop.“ the senate represented regions • Called for a two-chamber (bicameral) parliament, including a (appointed) senate and a (elected) house of commons.

REBELLIONS UPPER & LOWER CANADA 1837 & 1838