REBELLIONS UPPER & LOWER CANADA 1837 & 1838 Key Events In Canadian History Which influenced The Nation We Have Today

Prior to the Rebellions Quebec Act This act brought some peace among the provinces. Canada did not join the American Revolution. The Treaty of Paris, 1783 (2 nd ) sends all British Loyalist to Canada. The First Treaty of Paris It gave all the land to Great Britain, No French Canadians could hold office, Also there were disagreements between French Canadians and British.

BELLWORK 1.Explain the similarities & differences between the Canadian colonies and 13 colonies. 2.How were the Chateau Clique & Family Compact similar? 3.Why was there tension between French and English Canadians? 4.THINKER: Why didn’t the assembly/citizens support the Constitution Act of 1791? How would responsible government change this?

The Rebellions of 1837 How failed attempts at change eventually lead to Confederation

Causes of Rebellions of 1837 Both advocated responsible government: embodies the principles of a parliamentary democracy. Similar to U.S. “no taxation without representation!” Influenced by the republicanism of the United States Sought to make the legislative/executive council elective rather than appointed The rebellion in Lower Canada began first, in November 1837, and was led by Joseph Papineau The Lower Canada rebellion inspired the much shorter rebellion in Upper Canada, which began in December 1837 and was led by William Lyon Mackenzie

Background to the Issue Governance in the Colony The Governors Land Issue Transportation Issue Special Privileges for a Few People

Governance in the Colony Colony had elected Assembly representatives from each district Made plans for colony needing approval of Governor & Councils Executive & Legislative Councils appointed 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

The Governors British men appointed by English monarch Unfamiliar with local issues & conditions Depended on the advice of their councils Usually United Empire Loyalists They were wealthy & better educated so better able to govern ordinary people Anglican (church) should have ‘position’

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

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… 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…

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

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 Fall, 1837, armed revolt failed, vs. govt. & RC church, again in 1838 Papineau fled to USA, then France, returned & Pardoned in 1845 Lower Canada (Quebec)

Louis-Joseph Papineau Born in Montreal, Quebec Politician, lawyer, landowner, reformist Elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1815 In 1815, he became leader of Parti Canadien (opposed abuses of appointed legislative council) Published his demands in 1834 – 92 Resolutions resolutions called for an elected Legislative Council & Executive Council

Louis-Joseph Papineau mural by Jean Cartier found in the Papineau Metro station of Montreal.

Life in Lower Canada English criminal law & French civil law were used French-speaking inhabitants included families who had lived in rural areas for generations & professionals English-speaking inhabitants included merchants and businessmen, Loyalists and English-speaking farmers; all of which, lived in land set aside for English-speaking people Rural life was difficult: land was scarce as population grew; many forced to move to U.S.

Life in Lower Canada Society was gradually becoming divided Throughout 1820’s & 1830’s, there were crop failures and wheat sold for low prices More and more English-speaking people were coming to Lower Canada which threatened French culture, Catholicism and privileges Between , the Legislative Council rejected 234 bills proposed by Papineau and the Assembly. Discontent was made worse by years of bad crops, little money, a cholera epidemic, support for assimilation, and a slowdown in the timber trade.

What people in Lower Canada wanted French-speaking professionals: wanted a separate French-Canadian nation that would keep their traditions, French law, language, Catholicism, and agricultural way of life Formed a political party called Parti Canadien English-speaking professionals: wanted Lower Canada more businesslike, English to be the main language, British civil laws, more harbors/canals for trade (unite provinces) English-speaking farmers: Loyalists, unhappy because French language was used in government, Protestant Chateau Clique: British loyalists, wealthy, British system of government Elected Assembly: Had to own property to be a member or to vote, governor could overturn laws Leader of reform movement, Papineau, was an elected member of the Assembly

Rebellion of Lower Canada Flag used by the Patriotes:

Rebellion of Lower Canada Commonly referred to as the Patriots’ War by Quebeckers Date: 6 November 1837 – 10 November 1838 Location: Lower Canada (Quebec) Conflict: Divisions between Chateau Clique (English loyalists, fur trade, wealthy, urban, control of gov) vs. French Patriotes (farmers, rural, angry at ↓ ag. prices) Result: Military suppression of Patriote rebellion and defeat of American interventions. Effects: Unification of Upper and Lower Canada into The Province of Canada Great BritainLower Canada Parties Involved Great Britain Lower Canadian Loyalists Patriotes United States sympathizers Military Strength 10,000 British soldiers (mid-1838) 23,000 militia 4,100 Patriotes 25,000 Americans Casualties 32 dead 47 wounded 73 dead, 1600 wounded, 29 executed for treason, 58 deported to Australia

Reasons the rebellion in Lower Canada failed Patriotes were not very well armed or organized Patriotes did not agree among themselves. Some thought violence was the only way to bring reform, while others believed violence should not be used Papineau fled the country, leaving the rebellion with no effective leader Roman Catholic Church did not support the Rebellion and warned the inhabitants that anyone who fought in it would be excommunicated The Patriotes expected help from the U.S. but were disappointed b/c the president did not want another war with England

Upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie The Reformers Vs. Family Compact Lower Canada Louis Joseph Papineau The Patriots Vs. Chateau Clique 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 Rebellions of Rebellions of

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 Reserves, Land grants to the oligarchies, Influence of the Church of England Power of the Banks

Reasons the rebellion in Upper Canada failed Rebels were poorly armed and poorly trained Many of the ordinary people were angry at the government, but not angry enough to fight them Mackenzie fled the country and never had the same influence again Mackenzie and others expected at least some support from the U.S., but did not get it

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

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.

Lord Durham’s Report 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’

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.

Think about this Thesis If in the position of the Reformers or Patriots, a reasonable citizen would support ‘no representation = no taxes’ since a true democracy must have the citizen’s power move up to the ‘elected’ govt. officials, not from appointed officials ‘down’ to the citizens. If every ‘democracy’ ignored their citizens and gave special privileges to a few, rebellion and civil war would surely follow. Given that the rebellions led to Confederation 1867, which spawned the nation we have today, the rebels did the right thing and definitely helped to create the model of democracy that Canada represents today.

Did you know!?!? The Constitutional Act of 1791 defined voters as people with property. It did not say that they had to be men. In the 1820’s, a number of women voted in Lower Canada elections. Louis-Joseph Papineau’s mother was a widow who owned property, so she was able to vote for her son in There were many complaints about women being able to vote, so in 1829, the Assembly passed a law saying that women could not vote. Women did not vote again until 1917.

Did you know?!?! Quebec (former Lower Canada) has the most forests in Canada, the largest dairy industry in the country, and is the biggest producer of maple syrup! Yummm! All of Canada’s maple syrup is produced in a 25-day harvest in March.