1815-1855 The Peoples Voice is Heard

By 8-27 group 2

Geography of Upper and Lower Canada Borders what is now News Brunswick, northeast

area of United States, and Great lakes Upper Canada-southern Ontario Lower Canada-Quebec and Newfoundland Upper and lower Canada both British Colonies Lower Canada mainly French speaking Canadiens Upper Canada mainly English speaking people

The three groups/ life in lower Canada Habitant (French-speaker) work in life

threaten narrow farms by reducing available farmland causing young people to move from Canada to the U.S, they are extreme poverty cause starvation

Merchant (English- speaker) rich and powerful by exporting fur and timber

Professionals are educated French speaker (doctor) and dream of separating French canadian Nation

Louis-Joseph Papineau Wealthy seigneur by having strong supporter of French He favored doing things old way Served as officer in militia by defending British north America

from Americans during war of 1812 Been elected speaker to legislative assembly of lower Canada

in 1809 As speaker he become leader of party Canadian After 1825 party Canadian was called parti canadien.

Government in Lower Canada Governor British appointed Legislative council English-speaking merchants and seigneurs Executive council friends of Governor Can’t be voted out Legislative assembly voted by citizens Two Groups, Chateau Clique, Parti Canadien(Parti Patriote) Chateau Clique, British who are wealthy or French sided with

British Parti Canadien, want French way

Unrest in lower Canada British merchants want taxes for canals, harbors and roads,

wouldn't help French Immigration eliminate French culture and language 1832, immigrant ship brought disease cholera, killed 5500 Legislative assembly(French-speaking) hard to make laws 1836 crops failed, Canadians face starvation 1837 economic depression, English merchants blamed

The Armed Rebellion In Lower Canada Began on November 23,1837 at St. Denis. At that battle they

won their first victory The Rebels, group that rebelled British enforcements and

fought back Following that battle they built a fortress at St. Charles to fight

the British but lost Leader fled to U.S After all the fighting 12 were hung 58 were sent to Australia

and 12 hundred were set free.

Life in upper Canada

Pioneer homestead start from scratch and forced native inland

Most habitant were subsistence farmers meaning they only farm for their family

Life in towns was easier Town were hubs Town supplied a people with basic service Transportation mostly walking

Government of upper Canada Lieutenant(British appointed) highest ranking Legislative and Executive 2nd highest Executive and Legislative dominated government

business and social life Legislative assembly (Elected by voters) 3rd highest Had little power law has to be approved by council

and Lieutenant

Family Compact Small group of powerful people in upper Canada As well as friends and supporters known as Tories Didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian

government Defended tradition Believed power should be in the hands of few

capable people (themselves) Believed Church of England should have power Loyal to Great Britain

Who are the reformers,and what did they oppose? Opposed the power of family compact Wanted changes in government and society of upper

Canada Divided into moderate and radical groups. Robert Gourlay - plan to bring people from Britain to farm in

upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie - 1824, established “the colonial

advocate” a newspaper that spoke out on land problems, power of family compact and question to who was a upper Canadian

Sir Francis Bond Head - Appointed Lieutenant - governor of Upper Canada in 1835, was Reformer for short period but rejected

Armed Rebellion of Upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie turned people against government in

Northern Toronto Radicals wanted upper Canada like the American government December 5 Mackenzie led 800 men down Yonge street in

Toronto In the United States Sir Francis bond head tried to raise an

army to liberate upper Canada giving 120 hectares of land for whoever would join him

Caught for breaking legal neutrality between Canada and the US jail 11 months

Aftermath of the rebellion

Lower Canada became even worse than before the rebellion

Upper Canada afraid to speak out because moderate reformers were branded as rebels

Prime minister decided to send Lord Durham as governor general

Lord Durham And his Report John George Lambton (Lord Durham) sent to Quebec City as

governor general. Suggested solutions for rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada. Wrote “report on Affairs of British Canada” also known as Durham

report Named “Radical Jack” in British House of Commons because of

radical policies. Upper and Lower Canada unite and become one colony, called United

Province of Canada - would unite English speaking people, would give them majority in gov’t

New colony should have responsible government - Local powers handled by colony: Imperial powers written, Governor advised by Executive Council only.

The Act of Union, 1841 Aim: create single government, establish English as

official language Was first step toward Confederation Canada was split as Canada West (Upper Canada)

and Canada East (Lower Canada, Ontario) In 1847, Lord Elgin became governor Executive Council/Cabinet got most power and are

responsible to Legislative Assembly Many members formed political parties to achieve

power. Nova Scotia:1847, New Brunswick: 1854,

Newfoundland:1855, Prince Edward Island: 1851. Received responsible gov’t in these years.

Bibliography

Unknown author.The Canadas. Retrieved May 30, 2007 from the internet:http://www.answers.com/topic/the-canadas

Canada Revisited textbook-pages 130-174