Conflict in the Canada’s The Rebellions of 1837

The Constitutional Act Signed in 1791 Divided Quebec into Upper & Lower Canada Upper Canada: Ontario area –English speaking Loyalists –Governed by Britain –Governor appointed by Britain –Ruling clique of the Council appointed by Governor: Family Compact –Elected Assembly voted in by the people but held no power Lower Canada: Quebec area –French speaking colonists –Governed under Quebec Act –Ruling clique of the Council appointed by Britain: Chateau Clique –Elected Assembly voted in by the people but held no power

Colonial Government GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE COUNCILLEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Appointed by governor for a term Responsible to the governor Appointed by governor for life Responsible to the governor Elected by the people for up to 4 years Responsible to the people Appointed by Britain Responsible to Britain * The Governor was based in Lower Canada

Sir Francis Bond Head Lieutenant-Governor appointed in 1836 for Upper Canada Believed in Tory values and disliked reformers Blocked reforming bills by calling “snap elections” and ensuring Tories won Removed from office in 1838.

Upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie –Radical reformer –Owned a newspaper- The Colonial Advocate –Elected to and expelled from the Assembly 4 times. –Elected first mayor of York in renamed it Toronto –Collected complaints and wrote “Report on Grievances” sent to Britain –Changes newspaper to The Constitution –Issues a “Toronto Declaration” –Gathers supporters and marches on Toronto in an attempt to capture government

Lower Canada Louis Joseph Papineau –Moderate reformer –Leader of Parti Patriote –French seigneurial lord –Compiled “92 Resolutions” sent to Britain –Britain rejects all requests, Papineau angered –Crowds are riled, Papineau fears rebellion Dr. Wolfred Nelson –English supporter of Papineau –Calls for rebellion!

Battles Upper Canada Montgomery’s Tavern: men with Mackenzie are scared when the British commander fires a cannon. - Two days later, Bond Head torches the Tavern, Mackenzie escapes to USA. Lower Canada Battle of St. Denis: - Patriotes blockade road and wait for British to arrive. - Patriotes defeat the British Battle of St. Eustache: - British burn the church with the Patriotes in it.

Nova Scotia Joseph Howe –Educated by his father, a Halifax printer –Newspaper publisher- The Novascotian –Printed a letter signed “The People” that accused council magistrates with stealing from the government treasury –Charged with criminal libel –Spoke for 6 hours in court, finally convincing the jury he was not guilty of libel

Reasons for Rebellion Seigneurial system failing, poor crops Cholera outbreak in Lower Canada Ethnic tension: French Canadians losing control of land and culture Conflict between Councils and Assemblies Bribing by the Leiutenant Governor Bond Head Britain ignoring continuous complaints

Aftermath of the Rebellions Battles were poorly prepared and co- ordinated. No real “plan” Reformer leaders escaped to USA. The American supporters of the reformers raid the borders of Upper Canada In Upper Canada, Loyalists move to the USA. British Colonial Office sends Lord Durham to investigate North American colonies

The Reformers PapineauMackenzieHowe Full Name Colony of residence Type of Education Occupation Political Views Supporters Contribution to the Rebellions