1. Responsible Government
Rebellions, Laws & the Act of Union

2. The Problem With Canada
Following the war of 1812 citizens in Canada began to discover a problem!
The Problem = the Constitutional Act of 1791
Act gave the power of ruling to the elite minority
The rest of the world was demanding rights for the majority (aka majority rule)

3. How was CND Ruled? Upper and Lower Canada was ruled by oligarchy.
Oligarchy – a small ruling class
Mostly English-speaking & members of the Anglican Church
Used their power for large industrial projects (canals)
Benefit of their own economic enterprises
Canadian oligarchy:
Upper – Family Compact
Lower – Château Clique

4. The Elite Dominate
Oligarchy gave only the Anglican Church large amounts of land called Clergy Reserves that would finance the church.
The oligarchy made up the appointed men in the Executive Council
They would override and block laws passed by the elected assembly
Propose taxes and manage government operations.
This made the average citizen ANGRY because their voices were being ignored and tensions grew on both sides.

5. Reformers Reformers – People who wanted responsible government.
Responsible Government – a government who is held accountable to its citizens
The Reformers used newspapers as their primary tool for spreading their message of injustice and change.

6. The Reformers
Upper Canada leader – William Lyon Mackenzie and his paper “The Colonial Advocate”
Lower Canada leader – Louis-Joseph Papineau and his paper “Le Canadien”
Reform in Lower Canada fought for :
economic and political rights
but also cultural security for the French speaking majority of Lower Canada

7. Rebellion Reformers would have to take a more DRASTIC approach!
The tension between Oligarchy and Reformers grew.
The elected assembly of Canada passed two bills demanding the appointed council to respect the elected assembly.
Upper Canada – The Seventh Report on Grievances
Lower Canada – The Ninety-Two Resolutions
These bills would be IGNORED!
Reformers would have to take a more DRASTIC approach!

8. Government starts paying attention !
1837 Rebellion
In 1837 armed rebellion breaks out in Lower Canada
Would last less than a month.
Reformers marched and fought government forces in Toronto and all over Canada but would be quickly defeated
Results: 20 Rebels hanged and Mackenzie and Papineau sought safety in the Untied States
Government starts paying attention !

9. Lord Durham’s Report England is worried about losing control of Canada
They send Lord Durham to Canada to develop solutions for preventing further rebellion.
He discovers two causes of rebellion:
1) The oligarchy in Upper Canada
2) Divisions between French and English in Lower Canada

10. Durham’s Solutions Durham had two solutions:
Upper Canada – Called for a government that would be respectful/respond to the wishes of the majority in the assembly/people. AKA- Responsible Government for the colonies rather than Representative Govt.
Lower Canada – Called for the colonies to unite. Upper and Lower Canada into one colony. (by doing this Assimilating the French into the larger English colony eliminating Upper and Lower Canada)

11. Act of Union 1841
Made Upper (West) & Lower (East) Canada one colony – Province of Canada. (Canada East and Canada West)
Colony has one governor
One Elected Assembly
One language in legislature
Canada East & Canada West would have equal representation (42 members each)

12. Act of the Union 1841 Result of the Act of Union:
French politicians grouped together to prevent assimilation and often acted as a voting block.
Politicians learnt how to work together by forming coalition
Coalition – is formed when two or more political parties agree to work together for a common purpose