The Great Migration & the Rebellions of 1837-38

Immigration to BNA 1815-1850 Between 1815 – 1850 lots of people from Britain came to BNA This is known as “The Great Migration” This migration changed BNA. Before the 1840 most of UC & LC was Canadien. After 1850, most people were British.

What triggered the Great Migration? Poverty in Britain Left for economic reasons UNEMPLOYMENT: Many lost jobs b/c of the Industrial revolution- machines took over many jobs of the people Many lost farms The end of the Napoleonic Wars meant an economic slowdown FAMINE!! Opportunities in the Colonies BNA meant a place for people to start over EMIGRATION: Br. encouraged people to move as a way to end its economic troubles and encourage loyalty to Britain in the colonies

What impacts did migration have? More farms Settlers cleared land for farms More British people There was a huge increase in the population in BNA- especially in Upper Canada In Upper Canada- In Lower Canada 1830 - about 180,000 - 1830- about 450,000 1840 - about 400,000 - 1840- about 650,000 1850- about 1 million - 1850- about 850,000

Immigrant Ships Diseases on the ships: many did not survive the voyage CRAMMED into the ships or cargo areas People brought food to cook their own meals Trips that were to take 5-6 wks were 10-11 wks (weather) People thought cholera was sent by Britain to kill off and demoralize the Canadiens The government set up a quarantine at Grosse Ile about 50 km from Quebec. All immigrants had to report there Many Irish orphans at Grosse Ile were adopted by Canadien families

Grosse Ile Grosse-Ile is connected to the Great Migration as a place of hope and tragedy. Why? Place of hope: it was a place that the ill could recover from disease Place of tragedy: Many ill died here. Leaving many orphans. Go to www.pc.gc.ca/eng/Ihnnhs/qc/grosseile/index.aspx Where is Gorsse Ile? What is Grosse Ile? Why is this important in Canadian history?

Immigration to BNA 1815-1850 Leaders in Upper & Lower Canada and in Nova Scotia wanted an end to Britain's ruling in BNA BNA was ready for a democratic government so they had more autonomy over their destiny.

Learning from America: Looking to the US many in BNA wanted liberty or freedom from oppressive policies 3pt Approach : Liberty - The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions In 1776, America declared independence from Britain & King George III

Learning from America: Boston Tea Party No Taxation Without Representation!!!! Britain shouldn’t have so much control!!

Learning from America: Boston Tea Party Led to Britain installing the ‘Intolerable Acts’ which: -Took away local Self-government -Ended economic activity in Boston Led to the American Revolution in 1775

The Reformers- Who are they? The reformers wanted to change the rules and arrangements in BNA so that they would have the authority to make the decisions that affected their lives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EaYfcxfjm8&feature=related

Colonial vs Democratic Colonial Government Democratic Government Britain Governor Councils Assembly Voters Britain Governor Council Assembly Voters

Who has the power? In British North America? In a Democracy? Britain holds the power BNA had colonial government Britain appointed people who made the decisions including a governor and councils Each colony also had an elected assembly that advised the governor and council but has no real power Voters elect people who have the power to make decisions Therefore, voters have power In BNA reformers wanted the people who lived in the colonies to have the power Wanted elected assemblies to control councils, not governors Wanted councils, not governors to have control over decisions

Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 Why they occurred……… 1. Wanted Responsible Government 2. Britain didn’t listen 3. French Canadiens were unhappy with: - agricultural conditions - land system

Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 “L’Assemblee des sixcomtes, in 1837”

BATTLES OF LOWER CANADA

Lower and Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 Slide 2 Tired of being vetoed and having no say in political decisions The Patriote had sent a list of demands and the British had ignored them and took away the legislative assemeblies tax revenues. Overcrowded---poor land conditions---great debt and discontent. Explain seignuerial system. Slide3 4000 people -called for revolt and declared their independence Developed Plans to overthrow Montreal and then Quebec Collect $$$ Women formed associations Boycotted British goods Slide4 St Denis : Papineau fled to US Patriotes surprised the unprepared British army Saint Charles: 150 patriotes dead Saint Estache: 1500 British against 200 Patriote--led to 70 dead and 120 captured. (Patriote dead were shot or bayoneted while trying to surrender) Government Issued Warrants for Patriote Leaders

Battle of Saint-Denis Was a Patriote Win

Battle of Saint-Charles The Patriotes Lost

Battle of Saint-Eustache The Patriotes Lost

BATTLES OF LOWER CANADA

Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 Why they occurred……… 1. Wanted responsible government 2. Britain didn’t listen 3. Economic recession (hardship) & crop failures 4. Rebellions in Lower Canada provided an opportunity to rebel in UC

Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 Much smaller than Lower Canada’s rebellion Wanted a government like the US Led by William Lyon Mackenzie

Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38 Started in Montgomery’s Tavern 500 poorly armed rebels marched down Yonge Street Loyalist force burned down Montgomery’s Tavern and won Mackenzie’s rebels were very poorly organized

Lower and Upper Canada Rebellions of 1837-38

After the LC & UC Rebellions Britain sent out Lord Durham (Radical Jack) to investigate the rebellions He expelled some rebels and investigated UC’s and LC’s discontent Wrote “Durham’s Report” which became an important document in Quebec’s and Canada’s history

Durham’s Report “I expected to find a contest between a government and a people. Instead, I found two nations warring within the bosom of a single state” – Lord Durham He saw the French Canadiens as backwards as they tried to preserve their old way of life He didn’t want to give the French Canadiens power

Split Page Note Taking (Pg163) The Rebellions: Lord Durham and The Durham Report Lord Durham 1 2 Report Recommendations 3 4

The Rebellions: Lord Durham and The Durham Report 1 Sent from Britain to investigate the rebellions 2 Wrote the Durham Report Report Recommendations 1 Made the United Province of Canada (combined UC & LC) 2 Wanted Responsible Government 3 Little British involvement for local affairs 4 The Executive would be chosen by the leader of the Legislative Assembly (not the Governor)

Union Act 1841 AIM: -To unite the two colonies into a single unit, and to give the English-speaking people control of the newly named colony’s -Made the United Province of Canada with two parts: Canada East and Canada West Government -Canada East and Canada West received the same amount of representatives in the Legislative Assembly even though Canada East (Lower Canada) had a much bigger population Executive Councils appointed by the Governor General from the elected Legislative Assembly

The Act of Union (1841) Lower Canada had a bigger population

Split Page Note Taking (Pg164) The Act of Union 1841 Act of Union 1841 Aim - Government Changes 1 2 3

Split Page Note Taking (Pg164) The Act of Union 1841 Act of Union 1841 Aim - To unite the colonies into one political unit which would give English speaking people control of the colony Government Changes 1. Governor General appointed Executive Council from Elected Legislative Assembly 2. Equal Representation from Canada East and Canada West 3. Official Government language was English

1846 Britain Changes its Trading Policy Britain adopts Free Trade Before1846: Gave special trading conditions to the colonies After 1846: Gave no special trading conditions to anyone -The colonies weren’t as important to Britain

Please Compare and Contrast the Constitutional Act of 1791(pg120) and Responsible Gov’t of 1848 (pg166)

Rebellion Losses Bill 1849 -Compensate lower Canadians for rebellion loses (property damaged or destroyed) -Heal the relationship between French and English speaking Canadians -Governor General Lord Elgin didn’t like the Bill, but he had to sign it (that is responsible gov’t) -What do you think loyalist English speaking Canadians thought of the bill?

-Some wanted for the colony to join the United States (Annexation) -English speaking Tories burned down the Parliament Buildings in Montreal -Riots in Toronto and Kingston -Some wanted for the colony to join the United States (Annexation)