Rebellion and Change: Rebellion and Change: Upper CanadaUpper Canada

Trouble in Upper CanadaTrouble in Upper Canada

Upper CanadaUpper Canada

Cause of DiscontentCause of Discontent

A. How the Colony Was A. How the Colony Was GovernedGoverned1.1. In 1825 BNA was In 1825 BNA was

six colonies and six colonies and two territoriestwo territories

2.2. Each had elected Each had elected Assembly that Assembly that prepared Billsprepared Bills

3.3. Bills needed Bills needed approval from approval from governor and governor and councils before councils before laws enacted laws enacted Government House at York, Upper Canada,

home of several lieutenant-governors after the 1820s

B. Family CompactB. Family Compact1.1. small clique of small clique of

wealthy, powerful wealthy, powerful men who controlled men who controlled Upper CanadaUpper Canada

2.2. controlled controlled government, government, monopolized political monopolized political offices, influenced offices, influenced banking, land grants, banking, land grants, education, courts, education, courts, Anglican churchAnglican church

Reverend John Strachanb. Aberdeen, Scotland,

1778; d. 1867

C. FarmersC. Farmers

It seemed to farmers that the gov’t It seemed to farmers that the gov’t granted money to everyone but them.granted money to everyone but them. Impossible to borrow $ to improve land or Impossible to borrow $ to improve land or

buy farm toolsbuy farm tools

Bankers and merchants grew richer Bankers and merchants grew richer while farmers stuggled.while farmers stuggled.

D. Upper Canada - ProblemsD. Upper Canada - Problems

1.1. The way the colony was governed The way the colony was governed (appointed rather than elected)(appointed rather than elected)

2.2. Land – unfair way the land was granted Land – unfair way the land was granted (best land given to family compact & (best land given to family compact & Clergy – often left un-cleared & Clergy – often left un-cleared & undeveloped)undeveloped)

3.3. Transportation – roads were inadequate. Transportation – roads were inadequate. Money was spent on canal building (which Money was spent on canal building (which benefited the merchants – Family benefited the merchants – Family Compact)Compact)

Land Issues in Upper CanadaLand Issues in Upper CanadaSelf Self Notes: Part 2Notes: Part 2

► Many Aboriginals Many Aboriginals moved off to reserves moved off to reserves (Francis Bond Head)(Francis Bond Head)

► Best land granted to Best land granted to members of Family members of Family Compact—often Compact—often hundred’s of acres of hundred’s of acres of beautiful water front beautiful water front propertyproperty

► Less than 10% of land Less than 10% of land in farm productionin farm production

► Best farmland in hands Best farmland in hands of non-farmersof non-farmers

► Speculating on land Speculating on land prices going upprices going up

► Clergy Reserves also Clergy Reserves also upset farmersupset farmers

► Anglican Church given Anglican Church given huge tracts of prime huge tracts of prime landland

► Often left undeveloped Often left undeveloped and new settlers left and new settlers left with poor landwith poor land

Land ConcessionsLand Concessions

                   

                   

                   

                   

CLERGY Government land reserve

Scattered non-farming land stops progress. They are left treed and undeveloped.

Transportation IssuesTransportation Issues

► Road conditions poor Road conditions poor and impassable—and impassable—couldn’t move couldn’t move farmers’ goods to farmers’ goods to marketsmarkets

► Gov’t spent money on Gov’t spent money on canal building insteadcanal building instead

► Benefited Family Benefited Family Compact and Compact and business friendsbusiness friends

► Private businesses Private businesses granted huge loans to granted huge loans to build Welland Canalbuild Welland Canal

Who Were the Tories and Who Were the Tories and Moderate Reformers?Moderate Reformers?ToriesTories

► Friends and supporters of Friends and supporters of the Family Compactthe Family Compact

► Known as Conservatives or Known as Conservatives or ToriesTories

► Wanted to “conserve” Wanted to “conserve” existing form of governmentexisting form of government

► Approved Britain’s way of Approved Britain’s way of governing coloniesgoverning colonies

► Members of Legislative Members of Legislative Council and Executive Council and Executive Council always chosen from Council always chosen from this groupthis group

Moderate ReformersModerate Reformers► Reformers wanted to change Reformers wanted to change

system of governmentsystem of government► Wanted to attack the Wanted to attack the

problem through legal problem through legal meansmeans

► Supported Responsible Supported Responsible GovernmentGovernment

► Often influential people, well Often influential people, well educated and Anglicaneducated and Anglican

► Never wanted to break away Never wanted to break away from Britainfrom Britain

► Sought governor to select Sought governor to select Executive Council from Executive Council from Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly

Who Were the Radical Who Were the Radical Reformers?Reformers?

► Wanted change Wanted change immediately—including immediately—including though violencethough violence

► Many were restless Many were restless moderate reformersmoderate reformers

► William Lyon Mackenzie William Lyon Mackenzie urged independence urged independence from Britainfrom Britain

► Hoped for empowered Hoped for empowered Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly

► In late 1837, Mackenzie In late 1837, Mackenzie made a “call to arms”made a “call to arms”

F. Rebellion In Upper CanadaF. Rebellion In Upper Canada

1.1. During December During December 1837, a rebellion 1837, a rebellion raged in Upper raged in Upper CanadaCanada

2.2. Sought political and Sought political and social changessocial changes

G. What Happened?G. What Happened?

The rebellion failed.The rebellion failed.

Rebels (more than 1000) were forced to Rebels (more than 1000) were forced to march to Toronto and placed in march to Toronto and placed in unheated jails with little food. Many unheated jails with little food. Many died.died. Those who followed orders went freeThose who followed orders went free 2 ringleaders were hanged2 ringleaders were hanged Many transported to Bermuda/AustraliaMany transported to Bermuda/Australia Mackenzie flees to the USMackenzie flees to the US

The Aftermath of the The Aftermath of the RebellionsRebellions

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