Struggle for responsible government marks 1850-64

The battle for Responsible Government won, the division between the Reform coalition (on the left) and their Tory opponents (on the right) weakens

Unleashes potentially chaotic and complicated political landscape marked by sectarian and regional as well as political divisions

The Dreaded Double Majority

A political deadlock existed between Canada East and Canada West.

The government at that time was unable to pass anything because they had a "double majority". With the "double majority" in order for a bill to pass in the Legislative Assembly, there had to be a vote in both Canada East and Canada West sections of the assembly, rather than just a simple majority.

The main problem with this was that the French and English voted against each other on just about everything out of distrust, which meant that nothing was accomplished.

Sectionalism & Gridlock

Economic progress and development stalled

Tensions were:

Religious: Catholic vs Protestant

Ethnic: English, French, Aboriginal

Constitutional: British vs Republican Government

Economic: seigneurs vs habitants, professional vs workers

Regional: West vs East

Sectionalism & Gridlock

A series of contentious issues revealed how polarized and unstable the political situation was:

i. Rebellion Losses Bill, 1849

ii. Annexationist Movement

iii. Capital of Canada, Kingston, Toronto,

Québec City, Bytown??

Rebellion Losses Bill

In the Province of Canada, responsible government was put to the test in 1849, when Reformers in the legislature passed the Rebellion Losses Bill. This was a law that provided compensation to French-Canadians who suffered losses during the Rebellions of 1837-1838 in Lower-Canada. The Governor, Lord Elgin, had serious misgivings about the bill but nonetheless assented to it despite demands from the Tories that he refuse to do so.

Elgin was physically assaulted by an English-speaking mob for this, and the Montréal Parliament building was burned to the ground in the ensuing riots. Nonetheless, the Rebellion Losses Bill helped entrench responsible government into Canadian politics.

Annexation Movement

Tories frustrated with “French domination” and Lord Elgin after Rebellion Losses Bill

Tories linked their loyalty to economic opportunity. British policy of free trade pushes Tories toward closer ties with U.S

Radical French Canadians, admire American democratic institutions – Papineau and Jacksonian democracy

Economy improves after 1854 Reciprocity with U.S., support for annexation movement wanes

Choosing a Capital

Between 1841 and 1859, legislative assembly makes 218 attempts to choose a capital, symbolic of deadlock

1841, British choose Kingston, Lord Sydenham hopes French will assimilate quicker

1849, Moves to Toronto after fire in Kingston

1850, Rotate between Québec City and Toronto

1855, Queen Victoria finalizes on Bytown, now called Ottawa

Research Assignment - Liberal Conservatives, Blues, Rouges,

Reformers, Clear Grits

Who were the primary leaders of the LC, B, R, Ref, CG??

What were their views towards the British?

Were they aligned with the church or the state?

Were they Catholic or Protestant?

What did they want to achieve?

An Ideological Map of The Province of Canadas

Catholic

Protestant

British

Republican

Church

State

Source: http:// www.politics.ubc.ca/uploads/media/

Catholic

Protestant

British

Republican

Church

State

Rouges

Blues

The Party System of the Province of Canada, 1850s

Source: http:// www.politics.ubc.ca/uploads/media/

Catholic

Protestant

British

Republican

Church

State

Rouges

Blues

Liberal - Conservatives

Clear Grits

The Party System of the Province of Canada, 1850s

Source: http:// www.politics.ubc.ca/uploads/media/

Catholic

Protestant

British

Republican

Church

State

Rouges

Blues

Liberal - Conservatives

Clear Grits

Reformers

The Party System of the Province of Canada, 1850s

Source: http:// www.politics.ubc.ca/uploads/media/

Political Deadlock

Between 1861-1864, 2 elections, 3 admin changes

May 1862, Cartier-Macdonald ministry resigns

1863, Sandfield Macdonald and Louis-Victor Sicotte fails a vote of confidence

1864, Sandfield Macdonald resigns

June 1864, Taché-Macdonald defeated

The Great Coalition

What was the Great Coalition and why was it formed?

June 30, 1864, in order to break the political deadlock, a coalition was formed between the Clear Grits under George Brown, the Parti bleu under George-Étienne Cartier, and the Liberal-Conservatives under John A. Macdonald.

Brown insists on confederation

Brown demands westward expansion

Brown demands “rep by pop”

Macdonald’s Ideological Vision

Catholic

Protestant

Rouge

Clear Grits

Blues

Ind. Reform

Liberal-Progressives

Tories

Source: http:// www.politics.ubc.ca/uploads/media/