1. REBELLIONS UPPER & LOWER CANADA 1837 & 1838

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

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

4. 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

5. 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)

7. 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

8. Governance in the Colony
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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. Land Issues 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

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

14. 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…

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Parti Patriote Wanted French ways to remain
Leader – Louis Joseph Papineau
Favoured traditional R/C society
Resented English favouritism
Land issues

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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’

23. Rebellions Losses Bill 1849
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.

24. 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.