Government Structure in Canada/BNA (past and present)

Government in the Canadas Rich and powerful people made up the Legislative and Executive Councils. The Legislative and Executive councils could veto any laws passed by the Assembly Legislative Assembly: the only place ordinary people (male land owners) could have a say had little to NO Real Power. Veto: to overturn: the councils could reject any laws passed by the Assembly British Government appoints Governor appoints appoints Executive council Legislative council _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Legislative Assembly elects People

Immigration to BNA During the 19th Century During the first half of the 1800s, the population of Upper and Lower Canada increased dramatically. The arrival of “Late Loyalists” from the US and thousands of Scots, Irish and English was known as the “Great Migration”.

Discontent in Upper and Lower Canada In Upper Canada, a newspaper publisher and member of the Legislative Assembly, William Lyon Mackenzie, became the leader of the reform movement. In Lower Canada, the reform movement was led by a lawyer named Louis Joseph Papineau. Reformers in both of the Canadas wished to have a government that was more responsible to its citizens

Rebellions in Lower Canada As laws and taxes in Lower Canada benefitted the English minority and Papineau’s demands for responsible government were constantly ignored, he and his followers rebelled against the government. Many battles broke out in small towns surrounding Montreal. The Patriotes fought hard against the mighty British army but were eventually defeated. Many Patriote leaders were jailed or executed. Papineau fled to the US.

Rebellions in Upper Canada The rebellion in LC forced all of the British troops from UC to help put down the Patriotes. Mackenzie saw this an opportunity to lead his own rebellion in UC. Mackenzie and his men were very unorganized and his force of 800 men were defeated by approximately 30 militia when they attempted to take the capital city of York. Mackenzie, dressed as a woman, fled to the US.

The Durham Report After the rebellions of 1837, Britain sent a new governor, Lord Durham, to BNA. His task was to investigate the issues in the Canadas and to recommend solutions. During his short reign, Durham pardoned many of the rebels and attempted to patch up relations with the US. After being relieved of his duties, Durham returned to England and wrote his report. His major recommendations included uniting the 2 Canadas and granting responsible government

Compare and Contrast the Change