1. Colonial Government A Need for Reform List of Grievances
The Situation in Lower Canada
Rebellion and Reform

2. Representative Government
A government made up of people who are elected by voters to make laws on their behalf
We vote in who we want to represent our needs in government*
Provincial Example Vancouver Island Elizabeth May
Federal Example Justin Trudeau

3. Responsible Government
Governments can be voted out if elected representatives fail to please a majority of the people who elected them
Governments are responsible for fulfilling our needs , so if they fail we vote them out!
Vote of Non- Confidence

4. Why are they Important? They form the cornerstones of Democracy
- a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
Democracy on paper!
Who was really in control?

5. Early Colonial Government
Colonial governments were indirectly run form Britain.
Britain appointed a Governor but he ruled according to what the Oligarchy demanded
This policy put power in the hands of the Oligarchy who ran the government
Family Compact / Chateau Clique
No Representative or Responsible Government
See page 66

6. What is an Oligarchy? A small group of ruling elite
Family Compact or Chateau Clique
Upper class officials in Upper/Lower Canada who made up the Executive Council
Controlled the government, government jobs, and spending of tax money

7. Family Compact
Small closed group of upper class English men who exercised most of the political, economic and judicial power in Upper Canada
Who got government jobs
How to spend tax money
How government was run
Made up the Executive council in Upper Canada

8. Château Clique
Small closed group of upper class English men who exercised most of the political, economic and judicial power in Lower Canada
Invested in shipping and canals to have total control mover Lower Canada
Control of shipping = control of the colonies

9. Oligarchies Exist Today!
The illusion of democracy as control of politics and economics in the hands of the wealthy
1% of the population controls 99% of the wealth and power

10. Upper Canada 1791
1791 The Constitution Act established the government of Upper Canada
Divided Upper and Lower Canada
Created an elected law making Legislative Assembly, a governor, and 2 councils made up the government

11. Elected Legislative Assembly gave the illusion of democracy
Every property owning male could vote BUT
The Governor and 2 councils (executive) he appointed had all the power
Family Compact / Chateau Clique
Any law the Elected Legislative Assembly tried to pass could be vetoed by the other branches of government

13. William Lyon Mackenzie: Led the reform movement in Upper Canada
Despised the ruling oligarchy/ Family Compact
Published articles in the Colonial Advocate criticizing the government
Wanted American Style democracy
1812 Elected to the Legislative Assembly

14. List of Grievances in Upper Canada
Land- overpriced, good land gone, Family Compact dominated land ownership, crown and clergy reserve land blocked road construction
Roads- wanted more roads and better quality roads
Government- oligarchy controls the government, Governor and 2 councils have all control, Legislative Assembly powerless

15. Controlling Opposition through Violence and Intimidation
Robert Gourley drew up the list of grievances and petitioned the government to change
he was arrested and deported out of the colony
William Lyon Mackenzie’s newspaper
Burned office and printing press

16. Problems seem worse in Lower Canada
The French population felt culturally attacked
Why: the ruling class was English BUT the majority of people were French
French population feared the loss of their
Language
Religion
culture

17. Power In Lower Canada
English Speaking Minority held all the power in Lower Canada
Those who control the money control the politics and policies
¼ of the population in control
Just like today 1% of the population controls the world

18. Fearing Your Authority
French thought the British were going to phase out the “French Problem”
Britain encouraged English settlement
Encouraged assimilation to British culture

19. Reform Movement In Lower Canada Main Grievances
Discrimination: French discriminated against by English Majority
Government: Lack of French Representation in Government
Taxes: Opposed taxation without representation
Schools: No French schools in Lower Canada
Farmers in debt: Land overworked from too many immigrants

20. Louis Joseph Papineau: Leader of Radical Reformers in Lower Canada
Initially optimistic about British rule but disagreed about British controlling all power
Became the leader of the Parti Canadien
Lobbied for Reform
After 30 years of legal attempts to reform, Papineau and his patriots rebelled against the government

21. Controlling Opposition through Violence and Intimidation
The Governor of Lower Canada arrested anyone who criticized the government and closed papers that promoted reform
1822 British soldiers shot protestors in Montreal

22. Remember there are Good Guys