Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada Part I: The Causes

Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada Part I: The Causes

Quick Overview • After 1812: British North America was: • Upper Canada (Ontario) • Lower Canada (Quebec) • New Brunswick • Nova Scotia • Prince Edward Island

Lead-up to Rebellion • 1830’s saw two rebellions erupt in NA: • Lower Canada: led by aristocratic Louis-Joseph Papineau • Upper Canada: led by newspaperman William Lyon Mackenize

Lead-up to Rebellion continued • Causes for both rebellions were similar: • Colonial government was out of touch • Colonial governments give power to small group of rich, influential men = OLIGARCHY • But differences were: • In U.C. = ideological & political crusade • In L.C. = added complexity of race & language

Causes of Discontent in Upper Canada • #1: How the colony was governed • #2: The rulers of the colony • #3: The problem of land • #4: Transportation problems

#1: Government of Upper Canada • Root of the problem was in having an elected assembly under control of an appointed council • est. by Constitution Act (1791) • Britain appointed a Governor to control oligarchy • Lieutenant-Governor per colony (appointed) highest rank • Legislative Assembly – looked democratic - all men owning property could vote • 2 appointed councils – actual power held by them & L.G. • could VETO anything proposed by Assembly • Assembly could block gov’t, but not lead it • new laws/spending had to be approved by both

#2: Rulers: Family Compact • small group of powerful people in Upper Canada • made up appointed councils • didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian government • defended tradition (Conservatives) • believed power should be in the hands of few capable people (themselves) • believed Church of England should have power • loyal to Great Britain • wanted gov’t to build canals, improve business

#2: Rulers: Chateau Clique • Coalition of wealthy landowners, merchants, government officers in Lower Canada • same system as Upper Canada • aggravated by fact that elected members mainly French Canadians • Governor’s handpicked council were Anglo merchants

#3: Land Grievances • settlers complained loudly • speculators (Family Compact) & absentee landowners overpriced or tied up prime land • Less than 10% of land was producing crops (all the good land was actually in the hands of the rich) • Displacement of Aboriginal peoples to give land to the Family Compact • 1/7 Clergy Reserve the best land – Anglican church in Upper Canada and the Catholic Church in Lower Canada

#4: Transportation Problems People led to believe upon immigrating: • could buy cheap land • would have access to towns and markets • poor roads caused hardship & discontent • Clergy& Crown reserves lay idle • scattered around • not cleared • blocked road development • farmers had to wind their way around reserves

Reformers and What they Opposed • power of family compact • wanted changes in government/society of Upper Canada • Robert Gourlay: Scottish land agent • did survey, list of grievances, petition…deported • William Lyon Mackenzie = newspaper (“The Colonial Advocate”): spoke out on land problems, power of Compact • Elected to Leg. Assembly, leader of reform movement • Louis-Joseph Papineau: leader of parti patriote in L.C. • aristocratic reformer • fought both for radical reforms & to preserve traditional French-Canadian values

Reformers Robert Gourlay’s campaign Louis-Joseph Papineau William Lyon Mackenzie

Causes of Discontent in Lower Canada  found British rule w/o democracy hard to accept (exposure to revolutions)  colony controlled by oligarchy of merchants and ex-army officers – all ENGLISH speaking  English seemed to have most advantages (80,000 English vs 420,000 French)  felt French society under attack: attempt to join colonies in 1822, tried to make English official language of the Union

Feelings of Nationalism • English-speaking immigrants everywhere! • meant to solve French ‘problem’? • gov’t worked to change seigneurial system to freehold land system (offered land in E. Townships to people from British Isles) • ships arrived with cholera-stricken Irish • plot to kill French off with disease? • discrimination • unequal taxation (farmers) • lack of power within government

Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada Part I: The Causes