1. COLONIAL GOVERNMENT AND THE NEED FOR REFORM
Ch 2

2. IMPORTANT TERMS Oligarchy: Representative Government:
Power by a few, rich and influential people.
Representative Government:
Representatives of the government are elected by the people to make the laws on their behalf.
Responsible government:
Representatives can be voted out if the representatives fail to please the majority of the people.

3. COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
The government of the colonies was neither representative nor responsible in comparison to today’s government.
The colonial governments placed the power in the hands of a small group of rich influential men.
This type of government is referred to as an oligarchy.

4. MODERN DAY CONNECTION
Can you think of places in the world today that are oligarchies?

7. COLONIAL GOVERNMENT Constitutional Act 1791
-Divided Upper and Lower Canada and created the government.

8. UPPER CANADA Government structure in Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly
Governor
2 appointed councils
Legislative Council
Executive Council
This system appeared democratic
All male citizens who owned land could vote.
BUT—the governor and appointed councils could veto any laws
Veto: to stop with authority

9. THE NEED FOR REFORM IN UPPER CANADA
The Legislative Assembly
Members are elected
Wanted the government to spend money on projects that would benefit ordinary people
Such as: schools, roads, etc
The Appointed Councils (Executive and Legislative)
Members are appointed (came from Family Compact)
Wanted the government to build canals, improve business, and to ignore the problems of land speculation and Crown and Clergy reserves
A difference in opinions = conflict!
Reform was necessary.

10. ANGER IN UPPER CANADA People are angry Leaders start to appear
Upset about how the government is set up and about land issues
Remember: much of the good land was owned by absentee landowners or Crown and Clergy Reserves
Leaders start to appear
Known as REFORMERS

11. UPPER CANADA RADICAL REFORMERS
Robert Gourlay
Created a list of complaints from citizens
He was arrested and deported
After this people became angrier at the government.

12. UPPER CANADA RADICAL REFORMERS
William Lyon Mackenzie
Took over for Gourlay
Became a radical reformer
Often disagreed with more moderate reformers
Used The Colonial Advocate (newspaper)
Published articles that criticized the government and the Family Compact
Member of the Legislative Assembly

13. UPPER CANADA MODERATE REFORMERS
Robert Baldwin
Egerton Ryerson
Wanted to bring about reform
BUT—wanted to do so peacefully through negotiation and debate

14. LOWER CANADA
Lower Canada is controlled by Britain, but has a mostly French-Canadian population.
Chateau Clique
Like the Family Compact
Elite group who had the power in Lower Canada
English speaking

15. LOWER CANADA Government Structure
Legislative Assembly
Lieutenant-Governor
2 appointed councils
Legislative Council
Executive Council
Members are elected
Appointed Councils (Legislative and Executive)
Members are appointed (from the Chateau Clique)

16. LOWER CANADA AND NATIONALISM
Nationalism: a feeling of pride for one’s country.
In Lower Canada French-Canadians started to develop pride in their French heritage
French-Canadians felt discriminated against
Three key problems:
Discrimination (against the French)
Unequal taxation
Lack of power in the government
Reform leaders start to appear
Modern Quebec Flag
Patriotes Flag

17. MODERN DAY CONNECTION
What is the relationship between French Canada and English Canada like today?
Discuss in pairs.

18. LOWER CANADA REFORMERS
Louis Joseph Papineau
Radical
Powerful public speaker
Leader of the patriotes
Believed in the need for radical change

19. REBELLION ON THE HORIZON
Conclusion: “The time has come to melt our plates and spoons to make bullets.”