1. Chapters 6 and 7 Social Studies 7
The United States Breaks Away and The Great Migration and the Push for Democracy
Chapters 6 and 7
Social Studies 7

2. American War of independence
Britain was in debt because of the Seven Years war.
Britain had to keep troops in the Thirteen Colonies to defend the land from invasion so they decided this was a good way to make money.
Britain decided to tax the colonists of the Thirteen colonies in order to keep the troops.

3. American War of Independence
Colonists were angered, said Britain had no right to do this, began protesting.
These protests turned into a rebellion led by George Washington.
In 1776 the American War of Independence started (also known as the American Revolution). It lasted until 1783 (7 years)
This war left the colonists divided.

4. American war of independence
Patriots- these were people who supported the rebellion and fought against the British
Loyalists- these were the people who supported Britain and fought to keep British rule.
This division put pressure on both parties…

5. Loyalist Migration
Because the Patriots ended up winning, the war, the Loyalists needed to either leave or put up with the new system
Many left for the British colonies of Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Other than the main group of Loyalists that fled, this group included 3000 black Loyalists, 2000 Haudenosaunee, German Mennonites.

6. Impacts of Loyalist Migration on Canadiens
There are now a lot of British people in Quebec, where there were few prior to the migration.
The Loyalists knew that the land was owned by Britain so asked for British laws and customs. (despite the Quebec Act which recently gave French Law back)

7. Impacts of Loyalist Migration on First Nations people
Before the Loyalists came, Britain negotiated treaties of “peace and friendship”
After the migration, Britain negotiated treaties to take over land for settlement.

8. What Change did Loyalists want in Nova Scotia?
Deported Acadians
Large group settled along the St. John’s River (today’s New Brunswick). They were separate from the other thirteen colonists because of both politics and geography.
The colonists who settled on the River were “new” colonists so they felt that had different needs and priorities than the older colonists who settled in Nova Scotia.

9. What Change did the Loyalists want in Quebec?
Wanted British laws and customs instead of French Civil Law.
Britain now had a problem….we just negotiated the Quebec Act and all was good….but now we owe something to these Loyalists who fought a war in our honour…?

10. How did Britain Respond to the Loyalist Concerns?
For the Loyalists who settled on the St. John’s River, they separated Nova Scotia and called the new section New Brunswick.
A few years later Britain recognized Quebec by passing the Constitutional Act in 1791 for the Loyalists who settled west of Montreal.

11. The Constitutional Act
Divided Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada
Upper Canada
British Civil and Criminal Law
Lower Canada
British Criminal Law, French Civil Law
Gave land for Protestant Church and guaranteed Catholic Churches for French
Officials and Legislative Council appointed by Britain for each colony
An assembly was elected by the people of the colony (representative government)

12. War of 1812
Fight between The United States and British North America. (part of the Napoleonic Wars)
France had a revolution and dethroned its monarchy. France became a republic. (Napoleon was the leader of this revolution)
The rest of Europe was nervous their countries would follow this example.
Napoleon led the French Republic in battles conquering much of Europe.

13. War of 1812 The Napoleonic War began conflict in North America
Because Napoleon was fighting to conquer the British in Europe, the Britain retaliated
The British:
Shut down fur trade between France and U.S.
Blocked U.S. ships from landing at French ports.
British boarded U.S. ships looking for deserters

14. War of 1812
U.S. grew angry at British for these actions and declared war on the closest piece of British territory…British North America (Canada)
Americans invaded BNA, expecting the colonists of BNA to join in fight against British….instead the colonies fought against the U.S.

15. Position of the Canadiens on the War of 1812
Catholic Church opposed the fight and republican government (no monarch, usually elected)
Because Britain was still ruled by the Monarch and France was not anymore, the Catholic Church favored fighting for the British

16. The Great Migration
People left Britain for economic reasons (no money)
Industrial Revolution- machines replaced them in the workplace
Many lost farms to large landowners
Napoleonic Wars caused economic slowdown and unemployment
Famine hit Ireland

17. The Great Migration
There was opportunity to move and start fresh in BNA
Britain encouraged people to move for a few reasons:
Reduce the pressure and economic troubles plaguing the country
Put more people in BNA with loyalty to Britain

18. Impacts of Great Migration?
More farms
More British people

19. The Push for Democracy
The reformers wanted to change the government of BNA. They wanted to be treated like adults and make the decisions that affected their own lives.
BNA currently had a Colonial Government (Britain appointed the powerful people)
The assembly that the colonist voted on had little power in comparison. They could not make decisions, only advise the governor and council appointed by Britain.

20. The Push for Democracy The Reformers wanted …
The elected members of the assembly to control the membership of the council
The council NOT the governors, to have full control of decision making

21. The Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 Lower Canada
Struggle arose between council and assembly
Created problems between the Protestant people (British)…who’s favor was with the council, and the Catholic people (French)…who’s favor was with the assembly.
Led to a lot of fights amongst the colonists
Experienced a cholera epidemic (killed nearly 5000 people)
Crop failures

22. The Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 Upper Canada
Power struggle also developed between council and assembly
“Family Compact” held power
Reform party won an election against this power.
Two years later the governor made sure a party he favored won the election, not the Reform Party
Also had widespread crop failure

23. Britain’s Response to the Rebellions
British wanted to know why Rebellions happened. They did not want to lose Upper and Lower Canada the way the lost The Thirteen colonies.
Royal Commission, headed by the governor of the Canadas, Lord Durham, investigated and made recommendations:
Union of Upper and Lower Canada
More Democratic government
Assimilate the Canadiens

24. The Act of Union 1841- Britain passed the Act of Union
Combine Upper and Lower Canada into one large land called The Province of Canada
Governor appointed legislative council
Assembly had equal members from Canada East and West
English became the official language of the Province of Canada.
Durham's report suggested Canadiens assimilate

25. Government in the Province of Canada Under The Act of Union
Britain
Governor
Legislative Council
Appointed by governor
Elected Assembly
42 members/42 members
Canada East/Canada West
Voters
Mostly male property owners
Direction of power

27. The Lafontaine-Baldwin Alliance
The Act of Union was supposed to bring East and West together but it did the opposite.
Robert Baldwin (West) and Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine (East) wanted a more democratic government (but not a complete break from Britain)and formed a coalition (came together)
They fought for:
French to be an official language in the assembly
Universite Lavale and University of Toronto established
Amnesty (pardon) for the rebels

28. The Rebellion Losses Bill
Once the Province of Canada gained control of its affairs from Britain, its first challenge to its commitment in democracy came from the enforcing of this Bill
During the Rebellions of , people in Upper Canada were compensated for their losses.
Lafontaine and Baldwin wanted the same for Lower Canadians

29. The Rebellion Losses Bill
Conservative members of the assembly said this bill “rewarded traitors” and they opposed it
The reform alliance members of the assembly outnumbered the conservative members, so the bill passed.
Conservative members called on Lord Elgin (governor at the time) to refuse to sign the Bill (this meant it wouldn’t be passed)
Despite his personal opposition to the Bill, Lord Elgin signed anyway…which proved that the democratic government was working in the Province of Canada
Note: angry mobs of English Canadians attacked Lord Elgin in the streets because of this decision. Lord Elgin, however, did not change his mind and still signed the Bill.