The Act of Union

The Situation The Constitutional Act (1791) created many grievances in both Upper and Lower Canada The Constitutional Act (1791) created many grievances in both Upper and Lower Canada Reform movements challenged the oligarchy, known as the "Family Compact." Reform movements challenged the oligarchy, known as the "Family Compact."

Reform 1820 and 1850 reform movements emerged in 1820 and 1850 reform movements emerged in Canadian reformers believed that society needed a government that represented the interest of the general population, not a wealthy elite. Canadian reformers believed that society needed a government that represented the interest of the general population, not a wealthy elite.

Governance: The Exercise of Privilege Women and First Nations peoples were not permitted to vote Women and First Nations peoples were not permitted to vote Property qualifications restricted the number of males Property qualifications restricted the number of males Members of the elected assemblies were not paid, only the rich could afford to be in government Members of the elected assemblies were not paid, only the rich could afford to be in government

Electorial practices. Polling was centralized in the chief market towns, which limited the number of voters Polling was centralized in the chief market towns, which limited the number of voters Voting was frequently manipulated by election officials in favour of one candidate. Voting was frequently manipulated by election officials in favour of one candidate. Balloting was open to public scrutiny rather than conducted in secret. Balloting was open to public scrutiny rather than conducted in secret. Voters were often being bribed or intimidated during the public balloting. Voters were often being bribed or intimidated during the public balloting.

Reform in Lower Canada Joseph Louis Papineau was the leader of the Reform movement Joseph Louis Papineau was the leader of the Reform movement He was a seigneur, He was a seigneur, well educated, trained well educated, trained in British law, and a in British law, and a dedicated French-Canadian dedicated French-Canadian Speaker of the Legislative Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from Assembly from His tool of Reform was the His tool of Reform was the power of the purse power of the purse

Reform in Lower Canada The Assembly used their power to block bills that would help English merchants in Lower Canada The Assembly used their power to block bills that would help English merchants in Lower Canada Tensions between the English and French in Lower Canada increased Tensions between the English and French in Lower Canada increased Papineau wanted to reform the colony by forming an elected Legislative Council similar to the American Senate Papineau wanted to reform the colony by forming an elected Legislative Council similar to the American Senate

Reform in Lower Canada His radicalism scared away the moderate reformers and caused the clergy not to back his reforms His radicalism scared away the moderate reformers and caused the clergy not to back his reforms Papineau was able to remain popular Papineau was able to remain popular After confrontations with the governor several assemblies were disbanded leading to a revolt in Lower Canada After confrontations with the governor several assemblies were disbanded leading to a revolt in Lower Canada The English fought the French to gain control of the government The English fought the French to gain control of the government

Reform in Lower Canada The revolt failed because the army was prepared to act while the rebels were not The revolt failed because the army was prepared to act while the rebels were not

Reform in Upper Canada The reformers in Upper Canada mostly opposed the Family Compact (an elite group of families that controlled Upper Canada) The reformers in Upper Canada mostly opposed the Family Compact (an elite group of families that controlled Upper Canada) The leader of the Upper Canada reform movement was William Lyon Mackenzie The leader of the Upper Canada reform movement was William Lyon Mackenzie Mackenzie used his newspaper, The Colonial Advocate to harass the Family Compact Mackenzie used his newspaper, The Colonial Advocate to harass the Family Compact

Reform in Upper Canada Mackenzie was expelled from a Family Compact dominated Assembly but was re- elected all four times Mackenzie was expelled from a Family Compact dominated Assembly but was re- elected all four times His popularity grew each time His popularity grew each time Mackenzie wanted an elected Legislative Council Mackenzie wanted an elected Legislative Council His fellow reformer advocated an Executive Council responsible to the Legislative Assembly His fellow reformer advocated an Executive Council responsible to the Legislative Assembly

Reform in Upper Canada After a crushing defeat in the election of 1836 the radicals were driven to rebellion After a crushing defeat in the election of 1836 the radicals were driven to rebellion Rebel forces tried to seize the City Hall and weapons stored there and then to overthrow the government Rebel forces tried to seize the City Hall and weapons stored there and then to overthrow the government The group was intercepted and dispersed by loyal militia and Mackenzie fled to the United States The group was intercepted and dispersed by loyal militia and Mackenzie fled to the United States

The British Response Lord Melbourne, the British Prime Minister appointed a commission to investigate and resolve the rebellions in the colonies Lord Melbourne, the British Prime Minister appointed a commission to investigate and resolve the rebellions in the colonies Lord Durham was appointed Governor- General and Lord High Commissioner of British North America Lord Durham was appointed Governor- General and Lord High Commissioner of British North America Durham promised sweeping reforms Durham promised sweeping reforms

The British Response Durham had nearly dictatorial powers but was often under political attack from London Durham had nearly dictatorial powers but was often under political attack from London Durham granted amnesty to all but eight of the rebels Durham granted amnesty to all but eight of the rebels These eight were then convinced to plead guilty and were banished to Bermuda These eight were then convinced to plead guilty and were banished to Bermuda This he took as an affront to his power and returned to England This he took as an affront to his power and returned to England

The Durham Report In the report Durham identified several problems In the report Durham identified several problems Conflict between Councils and the Assembly Conflict between Councils and the Assembly Unprogressive nature of the French Canadians Unprogressive nature of the French Canadians

The Durham Report Durham’s Suggestions Durham’s Suggestions Responsible Government Responsible Government Closer to the British System Closer to the British System Union of the Colonies Union of the Colonies Representation by Population Representation by Population Separation of Power Separation of Power Colonies would run their own internal affairs Colonies would run their own internal affairs Public Education would be instituted Public Education would be instituted To teach the French to speak English To teach the French to speak English Judiciary free of the Executive Judiciary free of the Executive

Criticism of the Report Durham was only in Canada for five months and spent most of it in Quebec Durham was only in Canada for five months and spent most of it in Quebec Overestimated the racial barriers in the society Overestimated the racial barriers in the society Racial cooperation was not long in coming Racial cooperation was not long in coming Underestimated the French desire to maintain their own culture Underestimated the French desire to maintain their own culture

Greatness of the Report Durham did recognize the fact that British North America was emerging from its phase of colonial dependence Durham did recognize the fact that British North America was emerging from its phase of colonial dependence This was a major step in the transformation from Empire to Commonwealth This was a major step in the transformation from Empire to Commonwealth

Questions Any thing and everything. What do you need to know? Any thing and everything. What do you need to know? Fire Away!!! Fire Away!!!