Early Canada to Rebellions of 1837

New France - Lower Canada

League of the Iroquois

Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayugas, Seneca

Eventually joined by Tuscaroas Six Nations “people of the longhouse”

Missionaries arrival in Huronia

Huronia (Ontario region) Iroquois & Huron at war in early 1600s Hurons became economic partners with

French fur-traders by 1620, along with the Algonquians

Jesuits arrived in 1615 – part of deal Spread disease from village to village Efforts to convert to Christianity

Smallpox Outbreak

1639 – raged throughout Huronia Killed ½ population Killed young and old first – lost folklore and

future Fear of Jesuits increased Economic partnership with French mandated

Jesuit presence

Iroquois vs Huron

Weakened by disease, Hurons in trouble Iroquois given guns by English and Dutch

settlers in modern American colonies March 1649 – Defeat of Huron by Iroquois Jesuits were tortured by Iroquois

French and Iroquois

Truce Ended by 1680 War between France/Algonquians and

Iroquois/English Iroquois originally victorious, but later

defeated by French Army Iroquois converted to Christianity English-French peace in 1701

1744 – English-French war…..again

Lasted 4 years English captured French fort Louisbourg, but

eventually gave it back French maintained alliance with Mi’kmaq and

Maliseet October 2, 1749 – English governor

Cornwallis ordered destruction of Mi’kmaq peoples – willing to pay for scalps Measure never went into effect – London

advised milder policy

Britain’s growing anxiety about Acadians Mi’kmaq raids increased Cornwallis doubtful of Acadian’s loyalty 1749 – demanded unconditional oath of loyalty to

Britain Acadians officially neutral Some left – most stayed New governor – 1753 1754 – war broke out between France and Britain 1755 – ordered expulsion of Acadians – 13,000

Continued until 1762

Peace & Friendship treaties

With aboriginal peoples – Mi’kmaq and Maliseet

Attempt to maintain loyalty/neutrality of aboriginal people

Currently being interpreted by SCOC

Treaty of Paris

New France becomes a British colony in 1763 Ends British military rule of area (1759-1763)

Royal Proclamation of 1763

Creates Province of Quebec (Lower Canada) Recognizes land rights of aboriginal peoples

around Great Lakes British goal – assimilation of French settlers

Quebec Act of 1774

Guarantees continuation of French civil law and Roman Catholicism

Extends boundaries of Quebec to include the Great Lakes all the way to the Ohio Valley (between Ohio and Mississippi rivers)

Angered English settlers to the south

Urban Life In Lower Canada

Population rose from 160,000 in 1790 to 650,000 in 1850

Smallpox & Cholera Immigration Rural life of subsistence farmers Crop failures Economic decline

Seigneural System

1627 – 1854 Inspired by the feudal system Seigneurs (land owners) and Habitants

(tennant farmers) Hated by most Supported by Church

Seigneural System

Church versus State

Ongoing rivalry between professional elite and the Roman Catholic Church in Lower Canada

Colonial government’s power dwindled All tried to influence the Habitant population Professional elite turned to politics as nationalists

Framed arguments in support of French-Canadian nation

Aspired to replace the Seigneurs and compete with the Church as the leaders of French Canada

Seigneurs often collaborated with British in exchange for lucrative appointments and pensions

Professional Elite

Formed backbone of the Parti-canadien (later called Parti-partiote) and had increasingly hostile relationships with British merchants

Supported some aspects of seigneural system as rampart against English-speaking farmers who wanted to acquire land

Deny women the right to vote

Constitutional Act of 1791

Elected legislative assembly Taxes Strong executive authority Legislative council Executive council

Rebellion of 1837

Failure of Constitution Act of 1791 as a system of government in Lower Canada

French and Parti-canadien dominated assembly wanted to strengthen their hand and decrease “foreign” influence of the Executive branch

English speaking minority dominated the executive council and elected assembly was dominated by French-speaking canadiens

Rebellion of 1837

Struggle between haves and have-nots – change and the status quo

Some English-speaking Quebecers supported patriotes Irish immigrants

A question on $$$$$

Assembly wanted control of colony’s finances Assembly could initiate money bills –

Executive could refuse them Prisons – French wanted to pay for it with

higher import duties, British wanted to tax land

Legitimacy of elections

When Governor Sir James Craig annoyance with Assembly grew, he dissolved it and called new elections Nearly identical body elected and again

dissolved French papers criticized him – jailed for

treason Craig recommended increasing immigration of

British people to assimilate French and abolition of elections.

Louis-Joseph Papineau

Leader of Parti-patriote Speak of the assembly in 1815 Became increasingly republican

Increasing Radicalization

British attempted compromise – Assembly could control all expenditures IF they agreed to pay the civil service and administration each year

Patriotes were not willing to compromise 92 Resolutions – demands of the Assembly

Governor views it as a declaration of independence

Increasing Radicalization

London interested in compromise, but they took too long Commission appointed to study problem

March 1837 – 10 Resolutions by Lord John Russell Refused all 92 Assembly resolutions

No elected Executive Council Executive Council continues to pay administrative

costs without approval of Assembly Executive Council would be responsible to the

Governor alone – NOT Assembly Governor would continue to report to London – NOT

the elected Assembly

Patriote response

Legal agitation, then revolt if needed Organized boycotts of imported goods and

British merchants Public meetings – one in Richelieu Valley

called for revolt – adopted resolution included a declaration of independence Developed plans to take Montreal and Quebec

by force Warrants were issued for the arrest of Patriote

leaders – including L-J Papineau who fled to the countryside

Violent rebellion

November 1837 – violent battles between Patriotes and British troops. Close to 150 Patriotes were killed, British lost 3 Patriote “Army” was poorly armed and trained

civilians Prisoners were rounded up and sent to jail in

Montreal British torched 20 houses and barns (terror)

Violence continues…

British turn attention to the other Patriotes living in other parts of Quebec

British kill or burn 70 more – 250 total British continue to burn – entire town of St-

Eustache and St-Benoit A year later (1838) Patriotes try to take

Mohawk community of Kahnawake – raid failed Mohawks capture 60 Patriotes and turn them

over to the British - Jailed

Violence continues…

British troops crush Patriote rebels

Ambitions abound

Patriotes – French-speaking merchants and professionals who wanted political power in the colony

Church – Speak for French Quebecois Seigneures – Keep what they already had English-speaking merchants – wanted to keep control

of colony’s economy British administrators & Parliament – Colony could be

useful to mother country Habitants – who wanted to improve their situation

and supported the Patriotes

Consequences of the Rebellion in Lower Canada1. In response to the rebellion, Britain

established a Special Council in 1838 made up of some English-speaking Quebecers and some strongly loyalist French Quebecers

2. Colony lost its own government altogether3. Establishment of police force in Montreal

and countryside to pacify habitants4. Got rid of seigneural system on island of

Montreal

Long term…

Lord Durham’s visit – Royal Commission English merchants wanted union with Upper

Canada to save them from French factions Durham hoped that with union the British

would outnumber the French and they would give up nationalistic dreams and assimilation would begin

Monday

Rebellion in Upper Canada