The Rebellions of the 1830's How did the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada influence the formation of a colony?

Upper and Lower Canada

Overview The Lower Canada Rebellion (started by Robert Nelson and Louis-Joseph Papineau took place from November 1837 to November 1838 in what is now Quebec. During this time, two major conflicts happened in Lower Canada after the Patriotes resisted being arrested. They tried to drive the British out by invading Upper and Lower Canada from the American border. William Lyon Mackenzie found out and he and an army began the Upper Canada rebellion in what is now Ontario. It lasted from December 1837 to December 1838 and wasn’t as well planned out or successful as the Lower Canada Rebellions. The British won most of the battles and many of the rebels fled to the USA where supporters helped try to overthrow the British.

List of Protests Protest Province 1838 Attack from USA Upper Canada Battle of St. Charles Lower Canada Battle of St. Denis Battle of Eustache Montgomery’s Tavern

Causes The Upper Canadians had to pay the Church of England deeds of land and the church decided their social class. Other religions such as Catholic and Methodist were an exception so had an unfair advantage. A group of “elites” known as the Family Compact was trying to lead their colony with despotism (they had almost complete control over Upper Canada. The Lower Canada rebellions were inspired by the Upper Canada Rebellions to overthrow the British Colonial Government. There were also too many immigrants therefore a breakout of the cholera.

Conclusion The rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada influenced the formation of a colony because people didn’t like how things were run and desired change. Upper and Lower Canada were fighting for the same thing and joined together for this reason and so that they may have more success. In 1867, Canada became it’s own country.

Works Cited Buckner, P.A. Rebellions of 1837. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Foundation of Canada, 2000. (Online: <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm ?TCE V ersion= A>, accessed November 8, 2002). Creighton, Donald. The empire of the St. Lawrence. Toronto: The MacMillan Company of Canada Limited, 1956 . Francis, R. Douglas Richard lones and Donald B. Smith. Origins: Canadian history to confederation. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company Canada Inc, 1992. Ouellet, Femand. The Insurrections. Readings in Canadian History: Pre-Confederation. Eds. R. Douglas Francis and Donald B. Smith. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994,330-344.

Works Cited (2) Senior, Elinor Kyte. Redcoats and Patriotes: The Rebellions in Lower Canada 1837-38. Ottawa: Canada's Wings, 1985. Wade, Mason. The French Canadians 1760-1967.1, 1760-1911. Toronto: MacMillan of Canada, 1968 . Battle of Montgomery's Tavern, 7 December 1837. Canadian Military Heritage. The Government of Canada. <http://www.cmhg.forces.gc.ca/cmh/en/image_374.asp?flash=1&page_id=429> accessed June 20, 2004 Canada West. Encyclopedia Britannica. <http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-73498/Upper-and-Lower-Canada-1840&h=312&w=661&sz=52&tbnid=cbwDjsV4aWsJ:&tbnh=65&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3DUpper%2Band%2BLower%2BCanada&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1> accessed 2005