1. The Great Migration & the Rebellions of 1837-38

2. Immigration to BNA
Between 1815 – 1850 lots of people from Britain came to BNA
This is known as “The Great Migration”
This migration changed BNA.
Before the 1840 most of UC
& LC was Canadien.
After 1850, most people
were British.

3. What triggered the Great Migration?
Poverty in Britain
Left for economic reasons
UNEMPLOYMENT: Many lost jobs b/c of the Industrial revolution- machines took over many jobs of the people
Many lost farms
The end of the Napoleonic Wars meant an economic slowdown
FAMINE!!
Opportunities in the Colonies
BNA meant a place for people to start over
EMIGRATION: Br. encouraged people to move as a way to end its economic troubles and encourage loyalty to Britain in the colonies

4. What impacts did migration have?
More farms
Settlers cleared land for farms
More British people
There was a huge increase in the population in BNA- especially in Upper Canada
In Upper Canada In Lower Canada
about 180, about 450,000
about 400, about 650,000
1850- about 1 million about 850,000

5. Immigrant Ships Diseases on the ships: many did not survive the voyage
CRAMMED into the ships or cargo areas
People brought food to cook their own meals
Trips that were to take 5-6 wks were wks (weather)
People thought cholera was sent by Britain to kill off and demoralize the Canadiens
The government set up a quarantine at Grosse Ile about 50 km from Quebec. All immigrants had to report there
Many Irish orphans at Grosse Ile were adopted by Canadien families

6. Grosse Ile
Grosse-Ile is connected to the Great Migration as a place of hope and tragedy. Why?
Place of hope: it was a place that the ill could recover from disease
Place of tragedy: Many ill died here. Leaving many orphans.
Go to
Where is Gorsse Ile?
What is Grosse Ile?
Why is this important in Canadian history?

7. Immigration to BNA
Leaders in Upper & Lower Canada and in Nova Scotia wanted an end to Britain's ruling in BNA
BNA was ready for a democratic government so they had more autonomy over their destiny.

8. Learning from America:
Looking to the US many in BNA wanted liberty or freedom from oppressive policies
3pt Approach : Liberty - The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions
In 1776, America declared
independence from Britain &
King George III

9. Learning from America: Boston Tea Party
No Taxation
Without
Representation!!!!
Britain shouldn’t have so much control!!

10. Learning from America: Boston Tea Party
Led to Britain installing the ‘Intolerable Acts’ which:
-Took away local Self-government
-Ended economic activity in Boston
Led to the
American
Revolution in
1775

11. The Reformers- Who are they?
The reformers wanted to change the rules and arrangements in BNA so that they would have the authority to make the decisions that affected their lives

12. Colonial vs Democratic
Colonial Government
Democratic Government
Britain
Governor
Councils
Assembly
Voters
Britain
Governor
Council
Assembly
Voters

13. Who has the power? In British North America? In a Democracy?
Britain holds the power
BNA had colonial government
Britain appointed people who made the decisions including a governor and councils
Each colony also had an elected assembly that advised the governor and council but has no real power
Voters elect people who have the power to make decisions
Therefore, voters have power
In BNA reformers wanted the people who lived in the colonies to have the power
Wanted elected assemblies to control councils, not governors
Wanted councils, not governors to have control over decisions

14. Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
Why they occurred………
1. Wanted Responsible Government
2. Britain didn’t listen
3. French Canadiens were unhappy with: - agricultural conditions
- land system

15. Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
“L’Assemblee des sixcomtes, in 1837”

17. BATTLES
OF LOWER CANADA

18. Lower and Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
Slide 2
Tired of being vetoed and having no say in political decisions
The Patriote had sent a list of demands and the British had ignored them and took away the legislative assemeblies tax revenues.
Overcrowded---poor land conditions---great debt and discontent. Explain seignuerial system.
Slide3
4000 people -called for revolt and declared their independence
Developed Plans to overthrow Montreal and then Quebec
Collect $$$
Women formed associations
Boycotted British goods
Slide4
St Denis : Papineau fled to US
Patriotes surprised the unprepared British army Saint Charles: 150 patriotes dead Saint Estache: British against 200 Patriote--led to 70 dead and 120 captured. (Patriote dead were shot or bayoneted while trying to surrender)
Government Issued Warrants for
Patriote Leaders

19. Battle of Saint-Denis
Was a Patriote Win

20. Battle of Saint-Charles
The Patriotes Lost

21. Battle of Saint-Eustache
The Patriotes Lost

22. BATTLES
OF LOWER CANADA

23. Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
Why they occurred………
1. Wanted responsible government
2. Britain didn’t listen
3. Economic recession (hardship) & crop failures
4. Rebellions in Lower Canada provided an opportunity to rebel in UC

24. Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
Much smaller than Lower Canada’s rebellion
Wanted a government like the US
Led by William Lyon Mackenzie

25. Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38
Started in Montgomery’s Tavern
500 poorly armed rebels marched down Yonge Street
Loyalist force burned down Montgomery’s Tavern and won
Mackenzie’s rebels were very poorly organized

26. Lower and Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38

27. After the LC & UC Rebellions
Britain sent out Lord Durham (Radical Jack) to investigate the rebellions
He expelled some rebels and investigated UC’s and LC’s discontent
Wrote “Durham’s Report” which became an important document in Quebec’s and Canada’s history

28. Durham’s Report
“I expected to find a contest between a government and a people. Instead, I found two nations warring within the bosom of a single state” – Lord Durham
He saw the French Canadiens as backwards as they tried to preserve their old way of life
He didn’t want to give the French Canadiens power

29. Split Page Note Taking (Pg163)
The Rebellions: Lord Durham and The Durham Report
Lord Durham 1 2
Report Recommendations 3 4

30. The Rebellions: Lord Durham and The Durham Report
1 Sent from Britain to investigate the rebellions
2 Wrote the Durham Report
Report Recommendations
1 Made the United Province of Canada (combined UC & LC)
2 Wanted Responsible Government
3 Little British involvement for local affairs
4 The Executive would be chosen by the leader of the Legislative Assembly (not the Governor)

31. Union Act 1841
AIM:
-To unite the two colonies into a single unit, and to give the English-speaking people control of the newly named colony’s
-Made the United Province of Canada with two parts: Canada East and Canada West
Government
-Canada East and Canada West received the same amount of representatives in the Legislative Assembly even though Canada East (Lower Canada) had a much bigger population
Executive Councils appointed by the Governor General from the elected Legislative Assembly

32. The Act of Union (1841)
Lower Canada
had a bigger
population

33. Split Page Note Taking (Pg164)
The Act of Union 1841
Act of Union 1841 Aim -
Government
Changes 1 2 3

34. Split Page Note Taking (Pg164)
The Act of Union 1841
Act of Union 1841 Aim
- To unite the colonies into one political unit which would give English speaking people control of the colony
Government
Changes
1. Governor General appointed Executive Council from Elected Legislative Assembly
2. Equal Representation from Canada East and Canada West
3. Official Government language was English

35. 1846 Britain Changes its Trading Policy
Britain adopts Free Trade
Before1846: Gave special trading conditions to the colonies
After 1846: Gave no special trading conditions to anyone
-The colonies weren’t as important to Britain

37. Please Compare and Contrast the Constitutional Act of 1791(pg120) and Responsible Gov’t of 1848 (pg166)

38. Rebellion Losses Bill 1849
-Compensate lower Canadians for rebellion loses (property damaged or destroyed)
-Heal the relationship between
French and English speaking Canadians
-Governor General Lord Elgin didn’t like the Bill, but he had to sign it (that is responsible gov’t)
-What do you think loyalist English speaking Canadians thought of the bill?

39. -Some wanted for the colony to join the United States (Annexation)
-English speaking Tories burned down the Parliament Buildings in Montreal -Riots in Toronto and Kingston
-Some wanted for the colony to join the United States (Annexation)