Rebellion in Upper & Lower Canada Part I: The Causes

Quick Overview After 1812: British North America was: After 1812: British North America was: Upper Canada (Ontario) Upper Canada (Ontario) Lower Canada (Quebec) Lower Canada (Quebec) New Brunswick New Brunswick Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island

Lead-up to Rebellion 1830’s saw two rebellions erupt in NA: 1830’s saw two rebellions erupt in NA: Lower Canada: led by aristocratic Louis-Joseph Papineau Lower Canada: led by aristocratic Louis-Joseph Papineau Upper Canada: led by newspaperman William Lyon Mackenize Upper Canada: led by newspaperman William Lyon Mackenize

Lead-up to Rebellion continued Causes for both rebellions were similar: Causes for both rebellions were similar: Colonial government was out of touch Colonial government was out of touch Colonial governments give power to small group of rich, influential men = OLIGARCHY Colonial governments give power to small group of rich, influential men = OLIGARCHY But differences were: But differences were: In U.C. = ideological & political crusade In U.C. = ideological & political crusade In L.C. = added complexity of race & language In L.C. = added complexity of race & language

Causes of Discontent in Upper Canada #1: How the colony was governed #1: How the colony was governed #2: The rulers of the colony #2: The rulers of the colony #3: The problem of land #3: The problem of land #4: Transportation problems #4: Transportation problems

#1: Government of Upper Canada Root of the problem was in having an elected assembly under control of an appointed council Root of the problem was in having an elected assembly under control of an appointed council est. by Constitution Act (1791) est. by Constitution Act (1791) Britain appointed a Governor to control oligarchy Britain appointed a Governor to control oligarchy Lieutenant-Governor per colony (appointed) highest rank Lieutenant-Governor per colony (appointed) highest rank Legislative Assembly – looked democratic - all men owning property could vote Legislative Assembly – looked democratic - all men owning property could vote 2 appointed councils – actual power held by them & L.G. 2 appointed councils – actual power held by them & L.G. could VETO anything proposed by Assembly could VETO anything proposed by Assembly Assembly could block gov’t, but not lead it Assembly could block gov’t, but not lead it new laws/spending had to be approved by both new laws/spending had to be approved by both

#2: Rulers: Family Compact small group of powerful people in Upper Canada small group of powerful people in Upper Canada made up appointed councils made up appointed councils didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian government didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian government defended tradition (Conservatives) defended tradition (Conservatives) believed power should be in the hands of few capable people (themselves) believed power should be in the hands of few capable people (themselves) believed Church of England should have power believed Church of England should have power loyal to Great Britain loyal to Great Britain wanted gov’t to build canals, improve business wanted gov’t to build canals, improve business

#2: Rulers: Chateau Clique Coalition of wealthy landowners, merchants, government officers in Lower Canada Coalition of wealthy landowners, merchants, government officers in Lower Canada same system as Upper Canada same system as Upper Canada aggravated by fact that elected members mainly French Canadians aggravated by fact that elected members mainly French Canadians Governor’s handpicked council were Anglo merchants Governor’s handpicked council were Anglo merchants

#3: Land Grievances settlers complained loudly settlers complained loudly speculators (Family Compact) & absentee landowners overpriced or tied up prime land speculators (Family Compact) & absentee landowners overpriced or tied up prime land Less than 10% of land was producing crops (all the good land was actually in the hands of the rich) Less than 10% of land was producing crops (all the good land was actually in the hands of the rich) Displacement of Aboriginal peoples to give land to the Family Compact Displacement of Aboriginal peoples to give land to the Family Compact 1/7 Clergy Reserve the best land – Anglican church in Upper Canada and the Catholic Church in Lower Canada 1/7 Clergy Reserve the best land – Anglican church in Upper Canada and the Catholic Church in Lower Canada

#4: Transportation Problems People led to believe upon immigrating: could buy cheap land could buy cheap land would have access to towns and markets would have access to towns and markets poor roads caused hardship & discontent poor roads caused hardship & discontent Clergy& Crown reserves lay idle Clergy& Crown reserves lay idle scattered around scattered around not cleared not cleared blocked road development blocked road development farmers had to wind their way around reserves farmers had to wind their way around reserves

Reformers and What they Opposed power of family compact power of family compact wanted changes in government/society of Upper Canada wanted changes in government/society of Upper Canada Robert Gourlay: Scottish land agent Robert Gourlay: Scottish land agent did survey, list of grievances, petition…deported did survey, list of grievances, petition…deported William Lyon Mackenzie = newspaper (“The Colonial Advocate”): spoke out on land problems, power of Compact William Lyon Mackenzie = newspaper (“The Colonial Advocate”): spoke out on land problems, power of Compact Elected to Leg. Assembly, leader of reform movement Elected to Leg. Assembly, leader of reform movement Louis-Joseph Papineau: leader of parti patriote in L.C. Louis-Joseph Papineau: leader of parti patriote in L.C. aristocratic reformer aristocratic reformer fought both for radical reforms & to preserve traditional French- Canadian values fought both for radical reforms & to preserve traditional French- Canadian values

Reformers Robert Gourlay’s campaign Louis-Joseph Papineau William Lyon Mackenzie

Causes of Discontent in Lower Canada  found British rule w/o democracy hard to accept (exposure to revolutions)  colony controlled by oligarchy of merchants and ex-army officers – all ENGLISH speaking  English seemed to have most advantages (80,000 English vs 420,000 French)  felt French society under attack: attempt to join colonies in 1822, tried to make English official language of the Union

Feelings of Nationalism English-speaking immigrants everywhere! English-speaking immigrants everywhere! meant to solve French ‘problem’? meant to solve French ‘problem’? gov’t worked to change seigneurial system to freehold land system (offered land in E. Townships to people from British Isles) gov’t worked to change seigneurial system to freehold land system (offered land in E. Townships to people from British Isles) ships arrived with cholera-stricken Irish ships arrived with cholera-stricken Irish plot to kill French off with disease? plot to kill French off with disease? discrimination discrimination unequal taxation (farmers) unequal taxation (farmers) lack of power within government lack of power within government