Self-Rule for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Two Canadas In 1791 the British split Canada into upper and lower parts. Upper = English Speaking Protestants (Ontario) Lower = French Speaking Catholics (Quebec)
Rebellion in Canada 1837 discontent in Canada erupted into rebellion. William Lyon Mackenzie led the rebellion in Upper Canada. Louis Joseph Papineau led the rebellion in Lower Canada.
Dominion of Canada 1867 (self ruling nation) Lord Durham – Sent to Canada to determine how to end the unrest Parliament joined the two sections of Canada into one united country. With many immigrants entering Canada they joined all of the provinces along with upper/lower Canada into a dominion.
Canadian Pacific Railway 1885 the railroad connected east and west. In the early 1900’s immigrants from Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, China and Japan came to Canada helping its economy to grow.
Metis Metis are people of mixed native and French ancestry. Louis Riel led revolts of the Metis people in 1869 and Riel was executed in 1885 for his part in the uprisings.
Australia It is estimated that about 40,000 years ago people first settled Australia. They probably came from Southeast Asia. They are called Aborigines, or are indigenous (first inhabitants.) 1770 – Captain James Cook claimed Australia for the British.
Kooris The Aborigines call themselves Kooris and continue to live as hunters and gatherers today. The various tribes speak as many as 250 different languages. Under the settlers the natives suffered severely like other native people have in colonies around the world.
Penal Colony Britain had sent its prisoners to North America before the Revolutionary War. After the war Britain sent the prisoners to Australia about 700 convicts arrived in Botany Bay, Australia. If they managed to survive the eight month voyage they may not survive the cruel discipline under British soldiers.
Settlers Britain gave land and tools to citizens who wanted to settle in Australia. A gold rush in 1851 caused a boom in the population. After the gold was gone many stayed to build ranches and farms.
Australian self rule Britain united all of the Australians into one country and gave them an independent commonwealth status. The British monarch was still the head of state, but the Australians had their own government.
New Zealand 1769 – Captain Cook also claimed the islands for Britain missionaries landed there to convert indigenous people called Maori to Christianity. They were descended from Polynesians who landed in the 1200’s
Maori lose Like in other areas of imperial domination the indigenous people fought to stay free. It is estimated that Maori numbers fell from about 200,000 to less than 45,000. White colonists introduced sheep and cattle farming, taking most of the land.