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Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada: Causes Overview

Explore the causes of the 1830s rebellions in British North America, led by Papineau in Lower Canada and Mackenzie in Upper Canada. Learn about governance, rulers, land issues, and transportation problems that fueled discontent.

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Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada: Causes Overview

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  1. Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada Part I: The Causes

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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. #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

  7. #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

  8. #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

  9. #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

  10. #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

  11. 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

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

  13. 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

  14. 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

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