Rebellion in Rebellion in Upper & Upper & Lower Lower CanadaCanadaPart I:Part I:

The CausesThe Causes

Quick OverviewQuick Overview

After 1812: British After 1812: British North America was:North America was: Upper Canada (Ontario)Upper Canada (Ontario) Lower Canada (Quebec)Lower Canada (Quebec) New BrunswickNew Brunswick Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island

Lead-up to RebellionLead-up to Rebellion

1830’s saw two rebellions erupt in NA:1830’s saw two rebellions erupt in NA: Lower Canada: led by aristocratic Louis-Joseph Lower Canada: led by aristocratic Louis-Joseph

PapineauPapineau Upper Canada: led by newspaperman William Lyon Upper Canada: led by newspaperman William Lyon

MackenizeMackenize

Lead-up to Rebellion continuedLead-up to Rebellion continued

Causes for both rebellions were similar:Causes for both rebellions were similar: Colonial government was out of touchColonial government was out of touch

Colonial governments give power to small group of Colonial governments give power to small group of rich, influential men = OLIGARCHYrich, influential men = OLIGARCHY

But differences were:But differences were: In U.C. = ideological & political crusadeIn U.C. = ideological & political crusade In L.C. = added complexity of race & languageIn L.C. = added complexity of race & language

Causes of Discontent in Upper Causes of Discontent in Upper CanadaCanada

#1: How the colony was governed#1: How the colony was governed #2: The rulers of the colony#2: The rulers of the colony #3: The problem of land#3: The problem of land #4: Transportation problems#4: Transportation problems

#1: Government of Upper Canada#1: Government of Upper Canada Root of the problem was in having an Root of the problem was in having an elected elected assembly under assembly under

control of an control of an appointed appointed councilcouncil est. by Constitution Act (1791)est. by Constitution Act (1791) Britain appointed a Governor to control oligarchyBritain appointed a Governor to control oligarchy LieutenantLieutenant--Governor Governor per colony (appointed) highest rankper colony (appointed) highest rank Legislative Assembly – looked democratic - all men owning property could voteLegislative Assembly – looked democratic - all men owning property could vote 2 appointed councils – actual power held by them & L.G.2 appointed councils – actual power held by them & L.G. could VETO anything proposed by Assemblycould VETO anything proposed by Assembly Assembly could Assembly could blockblock gov’t, but not lead it gov’t, but not lead it new laws/spending had to be approved by bothnew laws/spending had to be approved by both

#2: Rulers: Family Compact#2: Rulers: Family Compact

small group of powerful people in Upper Canada small group of powerful people in Upper Canada made up appointed councilsmade up appointed councils didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian

governmentgovernment defended tradition (Conservatives)defended tradition (Conservatives) believed power should be in the hands of few capable believed power should be in the hands of few capable

people (themselves) people (themselves) believed Church of England should have power believed Church of England should have power loyal to Great Britainloyal to Great Britain wanted gov’t to build canals, improve business wanted gov’t to build canals, improve business

#2: Rulers: Chateau Clique#2: Rulers: Chateau Clique

Coalition of wealthy landowners, merchants, Coalition of wealthy landowners, merchants, government officers in government officers in Lower CanadaLower Canada same system as Upper Canadasame system as Upper Canada aggravated by fact that elected members mainly aggravated by fact that elected members mainly

French CanadiansFrench Canadians Governor’s handpicked council were Anglo Governor’s handpicked council were Anglo

merchantsmerchants

#3: Land Grievances#3: Land Grievances

settlers complained loudlysettlers complained loudly speculators (Family Compact) & absentee landowners speculators (Family Compact) & absentee landowners

overpriced or tied up prime landoverpriced or tied up prime land Less than 10% of land was producing crops (all the good Less than 10% of land was producing crops (all the good

land was actually in the hands of the rich)land was actually in the hands of the rich) Displacement of Aboriginal peoples to give land to the Displacement of Aboriginal peoples to give land to the

Family CompactFamily Compact 1/7 Clergy Reserve the best land – Anglican church in 1/7 Clergy Reserve the best land – Anglican church in

Upper Canada and the Catholic Church in Lower CanadaUpper Canada and the Catholic Church in Lower Canada

#4: Transportation Problems#4: Transportation Problems

People led to believe upon immigrating: People led to believe upon immigrating: could buy cheap landcould buy cheap land would have access to towns and marketswould have access to towns and markets

poor roads caused hardship & discontentpoor roads caused hardship & discontent Clergy& Crown reserves lay idleClergy& Crown reserves lay idle

scattered aroundscattered around not clearednot cleared blocked road developmentblocked road development farmers had to wind their way around reservesfarmers had to wind their way around reserves

Reformers and What they OpposedReformers and What they Opposed

power of family compactpower of family compact wanted changes in government/society of Upper Canadawanted changes in government/society of Upper Canada Robert GourlayRobert Gourlay: Scottish land agent: Scottish land agent

did survey, list of grievances, petition…deporteddid survey, list of grievances, petition…deported William Lyon MackenzieWilliam Lyon Mackenzie = newspaper (“The Colonial = newspaper (“The Colonial

Advocate”): spoke out on land problems, power of CompactAdvocate”): spoke out on land problems, power of Compact Elected to Leg. Assembly, leader of reform movementElected to Leg. Assembly, leader of reform movement

Louis-Joseph PapineauLouis-Joseph Papineau: leader of : leader of parti patrioteparti patriote in L.C. in L.C. aristocratic reformeraristocratic reformer fought both for radical reforms & to preserve traditional French-fought both for radical reforms & to preserve traditional French-

Canadian valuesCanadian values

ReformersReformers

Robert Gourlay’s Robert Gourlay’s campaigncampaign

Louis-Joseph Papineau

William Lyon Mackenzie

Causes of Discontent in Lower Causes of Discontent in Lower CanadaCanada

found British rule w/o democracy hard to found British rule w/o democracy hard to accept (exposure to revolutions)accept (exposure to revolutions)

colony controlled by oligarchy of merchants colony controlled by oligarchy of merchants and ex-army officers – all ENGLISH speakingand ex-army officers – all ENGLISH speaking

English seemed to have most advantages English seemed to have most advantages (80,000 English vs 420,000 French)(80,000 English vs 420,000 French)

felt French society under attack: attempt to felt French society under attack: attempt to join colonies in 1822, tried to make English join colonies in 1822, tried to make English official language of the Unionofficial language of the Union

Feelings of NationalismFeelings of Nationalism

English-speaking immigrants everywhere!English-speaking immigrants everywhere! meant to solve French ‘problem’?meant to solve French ‘problem’?

gov’t worked to change seigneurial system to gov’t worked to change seigneurial system to freehold land system (offered land in E. Townships to freehold land system (offered land in E. Townships to people from British Isles)people from British Isles)

ships arrived with cholera-stricken Irishships arrived with cholera-stricken Irish plot to kill French off with disease?plot to kill French off with disease?

discriminationdiscrimination unequal taxation (farmers)unequal taxation (farmers) lack of power within governmentlack of power within government