FROM LOYALISTS TO REBELLION

NEW COLONIES FORMED TO ACCOMMODATE LOYALISTS

LOYALISTS ARRIVESWELLING POPULATIONS OF

OLD COLONIES

A ‘BALANCE OF MONARCHY, ARISTOCRACY AND DEMOCRACY’

CONSTITUTION ACT OF 1791 ESTABLISHES COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS –

IGNORES LESSONS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION

BRITAIN FAILS TO REALIZE THAT EVEN LOYALISTS FAULTED BRITISH RULE IN THE 13 COLONIES – THEIR LOYALTY WAS

NOT A VINDICATION OF THE COLONIAL SYSTEM

COLONIES BOTH OLD AND NEW REBEL

AMERICAN REFORM• PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON

INTRODUCES SWIFT ELECTORAL REFORM– ‘EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL, SPECIAL

PRIVILEGE FOR NONE’

• MANY STATES HAVE FULL ADULT WHITE MALE VOTING BY 1820s

• NOMINATING CONVENTIONS– GREATER PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN SELECTING NOMINEES

– CONNECTION TO UPPER CLASS BECOMES A LIABILITY

• BRITISH REFORM MOVES MUCH SLOWER

PROBLEMS IN LOWER CANADA• SEIGNEURIAL SYSTEM BREAKING DOWN

– LAND HELD FOR SPECULATION INSTEAD OF GIVEN TO HABITANTS

– UP TO 40% OF FAMILIES HAVE NO LAND– SUBDIVISIONS OF EXISTING FARMS MAKE THEM TOO

SMALL TO SUPPORT A FAMILY• LORD RUSSEL REJECTS 92 RESOLUTIONS

– BOYCOTT OF BRITISH GOODS & BANKS• ASSEMBLY REFUSES TO APPROVE TAXES FOR

GOVERNOR– GOVERNOR VOWS TO USE TAXES ANYWAY –

UNCONSTITUTIONAL– OCTOBER 1837 PATRIOTES MEET AT ST. CHARLES– SPEAKERS CALL FOR ARMED REBELLION– PAPINEAU IS ONLY VOICE ARGUEING FOR MODERATION

• CHURCH DENOUNCES TALK OF REBELLION

REBELLION IN LOWER CANADA• NOV 1837 GOVERNOR DECLARES MARTIAL LAW

– WARRANTS ISSUED FOR ARREST OF PAPINEAU & OTHERS ON CHARGE OF TREASON

• 22 NOV PATRIOTES HOLD DOWN A FORCE OF 350 BRITISH TRYING TO EXECUTE WARRANTS

• BY 1 DECEMBER THE REBELLION FOLDS AT ST. DENIS– LEADERS FLEE TO

UNITED STATES

• PAPINEAU REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN ARMED REBELLION

BATTLE OF ST. EUSTACHE 14 DECEMBER 1837

REBELLION IN UPPER CANADA• SUMMER OF 1837 REBEL MILITIAs HAD TRAINED• OCT 1837 NEWS OF UNREST IN LOWER CANADA

REACHES MCKENZIE– BRITISH TROOPS ARE SENT FROM TORONTO TO LOWER

CANADA– MACKENZIE SEES HIS CHANCE FOR REVOLT IN UPPER

CANADA• CALLS SUPPORTERS TO MEET AT MONTGOMERY’S

TAVERN• AFTER INITIAL SKIRMISHES THE REVOLT ENDS AS TROOPS CHASE MACKENZIE ACROSS MONTGOMERY’S FARM

BATTLE OF MONTGOMERY’S FARM

REBELLIONS OF 1838• PATRIOT HUNTERS

– BASED IN UNITED STATES AND STRIKE TORY TARGETS IN UPPER CANADA AND LOWER CANADA

• LES FRERES CHASSEURS– BETTER ORGANIZED AND FINANCED THAN PATRIOTES– LED BY DR. ROBERT NELSON (ENGLISHMAN SUPPORTING

LES CANADIENS)– SEIZE BEAUHARNOIS SEIGNEURY BUT ARE CAPTURED BY

LOYAL CAUGHNAWAGA INDIANS – NELSON CAPTURED• 12 FRERES CHASSEURS AND 20 UPPER CANADIAN REBELS HANGED

• OTHERS TRANSPORTEDPATRIOT HUNTERS FLAG