1. Self Rule for British Colonies
Section 10-2

2. Canada calls for self rule
The 1st Euro nation to settle Canada was France for the fur trade
After the French and Indian War Britain took Canada from France
Canada became separated into French speaking (Lower) Canada and English speaking (Upper) Canada

3. The Durham Report
Growing tensions b/t upper & lower Canada and a demand by middle class professionals for pol. And eco. Changes led the Brit. Parliament to send Lord Durham to investigate the situation in Canada
He urged Parliament to unite Canada & encourage British people to immigrate there so that the French would be a minority
He also said that the colonists should be allowed to govern themselves

4. The Dominion of Canada
Many Canadians believed that a central government was needed to protect Canada from the US
Canada became a Dominion meaning that they made decisions on domestic affairs but remained a part of the British Empire
John MacDonald (1st Prime Minister) – expanded Canada west & began construction of the 1st Canadian transcontinental RR in 1885

5. Australia
When the British claimed Australia and later New Zealand there were 2 groups of native peoples there (the Maori and Aborigines)
Australia began as a British penal colony place where convicts were sent to serve out their sentences in 1788
After their release prisoners could buy and settle the land in the area
Raising and exporting wool became the primary money maker for many Australians
The British gov’t offered cheap land to free settlers to encourage immigration to Australia
Aborigines
Maori

6. New Zealand Settlement went much slower here
Maori land rights were recognized by British government, which led to conflict between the Maori and settlers
Finally the Brit. Gov’t annexed New Zealand and appointed a governor to settle the disputes (the Maori agreed to Brit rule in exchange for recognizing their land rights)
Eventually conflicts with settlers, disease, and superior Brit weaponry pushed the Maori to remote parts of New Zealand

7. Ireland
Ireland has been under English control since the 1100’s (English laws limited the rights of the predominantly Catholic Irish population)
England formally joined Ireland to Britain in this gave the Irish a voice in Parliament
Daniel O’Connell persuaded Parliament to pass the Catholic Emancipation Act that restored many rights that the Catholics had lost

8. Ireland (cont.)
In the 1840’s the failure of the Irish potato crop led to widespread famine (hunger) and millions of Irish left Ireland for the US
There were 2 sides that formed against British rule 1. those who wanted independence and 2. those who wanted home rule (control over internal matters)
WWI caused a delay in allowing S. Ireland home rule so a group of radicals formed the IRA (Irish Republican Army) to fight Brit. Control