1. The Loyalists asked for…and received, the Constitutional Act in 1791.

3. Main Parts The 2 most important parts were…..
The right to vote for people of age, property owners etc…
The division of the British Province of Quebec in to a Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario).

4. Constitutional Act of 1791

5. Review
British government did not know how to deal with 7000 Loyalists that came to Quebec after the American Revolution
The Loyalists were placed in refugee camps and were not allowed to “mix” with the Canadiens
Did not want the ideas of “liberty,” “democracy,” or “representative government”
Content with the Quebec Act

6. Review II Eventually, Loyalists were granted land in western Quebec
Long-term decision: two cultures in one area and an official policy was needed
Answer: The Constitutional Act of 1791

7. The Constitutional Act 1791
Major Aim: Keep Quebec bicultural; divided Quebec into two colonies:
Upper Canada (“Up” the St. Lawrence River; English-speaking)
Lower Canada (“Down”; French-speaking)

9. The Constitutional Act 1791
Give representative govt. by creating an elected Legislative Assembly in both colonies
Limited power to prevent another “revolution”
Key Terms:
Language = Upper Canada was English-speaking; Lower Canada was French-speaking
Religion = UC Protestant; LC Roman Catholic
Law = UC British Criminal/Civil Law; LC British Criminal Law and French Civil law

10. 1791: Time for Change… Again
British colonists (including the Loyalists) were unhappy with the situation in Quebec.
They wanted changes, including a legislative assmembly. This would give power to the people.
Many Canadiens wanted this as well.

11. Liberalism Believes in individual freedom and equality.
People should have…
Freedom of expression
Equality
Freedom of belief and religion
Participation in government (and vote).

12. Constitutional Act - 1797 Divided Quebec into 2 parts:
Upper Canada (west)
Lower Canada (east)

13. Differences between Upper and Lower Canada
French Canadian maj.
Catholic maj.
French civil law, British criminal Law.
Upper Canada
Anglophone maj.
Protestant maj.
British civil and criminal law.

14. Changes in Government.
Created parliamentary system – the people elected representatives to a legislative assembly.
Legislative assembly could pass laws and bills – though they still had to be approved by the Legislative council and Governor (who were appointed, not voted in).
To vote, you had to:
Be a British subject.
Be over 21 years old.
Own land, or have rented for at least a year.

16. Government (Legislative – laws)
UC : Lieutenant-Governor; LC: Governor General (control affairs)
Each had an Executive Council (appointed) to advise governor; Legislative Council (appointed) to propose and pass laws
Each colony had representative gov’t, with (elected) Legislative Assembly – power to impose taxes, make laws, serve locals
Only male landowners allowed to vote
Councils and Governor can block laws (veto) of the Assembly