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O, Canada!. The Road to Confederation, 1763-1867. Background. Much of modern-day Canada first claimed by France in 1534; “New France” stretched from Hudson Bay to Gulf of Mexico by 1712 Beginning in 1600s, England competed with France in N. America; made inroads on East Coast & Hudson Bay
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O, Canada! The Road to Confederation, 1763-1867
Background • Much of modern-day Canada first claimed by France in 1534; “New France” stretched from Hudson Bay to Gulf of Mexico by 1712 • Beginning in 1600s, England competed with France in N. America; made inroads on East Coast & Hudson Bay • In 1713, France ceded Hudson Bay & Newfoundland to UK in the Treaty of Utrecht
French territory eroded after 1750 • Seven Year’s War (French & Indian War): fought between 1754-1763, France loses to Britain • Treaty of Paris (1763): France cedes all of Canadian lands to Britain, Louisiana to Spain • Britain now controlled all of Canada, but inherited 70,000 French settlers
Royal Proclamation of 1763 • Issued by King George III, renamed New France the Province of Quebec • Organized Canadian borders, forbade settlers from crossing Appalachian Mountains • British-appointed governor would run Canada, and could appoint an assembly when necessary • British laws & customs established, Catholics excluded from jobs; first attempt to Anglicanize Canada
Quebec Act (1774) • Anglicanization quickly proves impossible. Why? • Newly arriving British are constantly at odds with French Canadiens. They demand an assembly that will exclude French-speakers & Catholics • James Murray: Canada’s first British governor; encouraged compromise between French & British Canadians
Territory: expands Quebec’s borders west & south (into modern-day U.S.) • Religion: Canadians could legally practice Catholicism; still had to swear oath to the king, but did not mention Protestantism • Government: appointed governor assisted by council, no elected assembly • Law: French law & customs could be used in civil & private matters; British law used in criminal & public matters
Effects of the Quebec Act • Appeased British & French Canadians for almost 20 years • Actually angered citizens of the Thirteen Colonies, and helped lead to the American Revolution. Remember why? • After US Revolution ended in 1780s, thousands of Loyalists poured into Canada • New influx of British Canadians provided need for a change in government structure
Constitutional Act of 1791 • Designed to accommodate Loyalists, but still keep French Canadians happy • Divided Canada into Upper Canada (Ontario) & Lower Canada (Quebec) • Governor & council remained intact, but elected assemblies for both provinces formed • Upper Canada used British law & customs only, while Lower Canada used French & British • Problems emerge: Governor & council had ultimate power; elected assembly had little
Canada from 1791-1830s • Canada faced two main concerns: absorption into the United States, and friction between Upper & Lower provinces • Though some Canadians admired republican-style government, considered US too radical • War of 1812 furthered suspicions of southern neighbor, but also shaped Canadian identity • Canadians began to want political & economic reforms to compete with US
Loyalists flock to Upper Canada between 1780s and 1815 • Industrialization, economic stress, overpopulation cause immigrants from British Isles to come to Canada • Influx of Anglos help to Anglicanize Canada, make Canadiens increasingly anxious and nationalist • 1830s saw economic distress, many faced starvation
Family Compact • Family Compact: a “clique” of British Canadians who emerged after 1812 • Canada did not have an official aristocracy, like Great Britain did; the FC was an attempt to essentially create one • Rich people made up the FC; those who had land or were influential businessman; must be Anglo & connected to the English Church • Centered in York (Ontario) • Quebec equivalent called “The Chateau Clique”
Lower Canada • LC was a divided society by 1837, in terms of language, religion, & economics • Friction between executive councils (English) and elected assembly (French), especially over control of revenues • Assembly viewed British rule & constitution favorably, but wanted an expansion of powers & liberties
Union Bill of 1822: secret bill proposed to parliament in London • Proposed uniting UC & LC, making English the only official language, and establishing strong government control over Catholic Church • Once uncovered, angered Lower Canadians and made many more radical • Would eventually lead to 1837 rebellion
Moderate turned Radical: Papineau • Louis-Joseph Papineau would embody the LC rebellion • Served in War of 1812, proclaimed himself loyal subject & admirer of Empire, though he was proud Canadien • Elected Speaker of LC Assembly in 1815
Papineau became radical lead of the Patriote movement after the Union Bill of 1822 • Hysteria over mass immigration & cholera outbreak in LC in the 1830s • Montreal Election Riot of 1832, British kill 3 • 92 Resolutions of 1834 demanded more power to the elected assembly • Radicals take up arms in 1837, but suppressed by British; Papineau flees to US
Upper Canada • Elected assembly frustrated by lack of power, rule of the Family Compact • Assembly wanted end to political corruption & special privileges for Anglican Church, but demands were ignored • William Lyon MacKenzie: Scottish radical, moved to York in 1820 & immediately started trouble; est. newspapers arguing for a more republican style government
British parliament passes Ten Resolutions in 1836, which limits assembly’s powers; last straw for MacKenzie & republicans • MacKenzie “trains” paramilitary forces, they seize the York armory in Dec 1837, then consume large amounts of booze; British forces crush rebels • Rebels retreat to Navy Island & proclaim “Republic of Canada” • Rebellion completely crush by November 1838 at the Battle of the Windmill
The Durham Report • Britain did not want to lose anymore colonies, so a fact-finding commission was conducted • John Lambton, Lord Durham sent to Canada to submit official report on the state of affairs • “Two nations warring in the bosom of a single state”
Unite Upper & Lower Canada into 1 province • Encourage Anglo immigration to Canada • Roll back the freedoms given to French Canadiens in Royal Proclamation & Quebec Act • More responsible government: governor-general more of a figurehead, while real power lies w/ elected assembly • Durham’s recs were controversial
Confederation • British Parliament adopts Durham’s recs • Act of Union 1840 unites LC & UC into a single colony – The Province of Canada • Province would have a single legislature, British still hope to assimilate Canadiens • Appointed leg. councils abolished in 1849 • Reciprocity Treaty: signed with US in 1855, boon for economy • Britain encourages confederation in order to cut costs of its growing empire
Charlottetown Conference 1864: Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PE Island agree to greater Canadian union • Quebec Conference 1864: delegates agree on Confederation plan • Delegates propose bi-cameral parliament: house of commons based on pop., senators will be selected by governor-general
Impetus for Confederation supported by suspicions of the US • Proposal sent to London, passed British North America Act of 1867 • Province of Canada becomes Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867 • Dominion composed of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, & Nova Scotia
“Father of Canada” John A. Macdonald • Born in Scotland, came to Canada in 1820 • Instrumental in Confederation process • First Prime Minister of Canada • Usually conservative, but open-minded • Dreamed of united Canada, and a transcontinental railway linking the country from sea to sea