1. Responsible Government 1.Where does responsible government come from? 2.What does responsible government mean? 3.Why was responsible government granted?

2. Historical Origins of Responsible Government  British dilemma: How to organize the colonies?  Quebec Act 1774 accepts French reality:  Freedom to practice Catholicism  Catholics may hold office ... but also direct rule by London via local governor  Constitutional Act 1791 is British response to American Revolution  Extends British institutions & constitution to British North America  Self-government... in theory

3. “Irresponsible Government” in The Canadas: 1791-1841 Legislative Council (Appointed) Legislative Assembly (Elected) Executive Council (Advisory) Governor General Executive Council ; carries out Governor’s instructions & advises Governor (who may ignore their advice)

4. British Reaction to Rebellions 1.Force not feasible 2.Lesson of U.S. Revolution: bend, don’t break  Policy of harmony 3.Durham Report:  Responsible Government  Assimilation: Act of Union 1840

5. What Does Responsible Government Mean?  This term specifically meant the policy that British- appointed governors should bow to the will of elected colonial assemblies.

6. Responsible Government in Canada Legislative Council (Appointed) Legislative Assembly (Elected) Executive Council Governor General Executive Council ; can remain in office only as long as it had the support of Legislative Assembly

7. Why the British Granted Responsible Government  British policy ends mercantilism moves towards free trade.  Example, repeal of Corn Laws in 1846 by Britain, temporarily hurts Canadian wheat producers who had preferential tariff rates under the Corn Laws.  Reciprocity Treaty with U.S. in 1854, North-South vs atlantic  Once the British Empire adopted a policy of free trade, there was less reason to control the internal politics of its most developed colonies (white settled colonies).

8. Shift to New Imperialism  Rudyard Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden” and the “Civilizing Mission”  Opium Wars 1839-1840, 1856-1860  British Raj after Indian Mutiny of 1857  Scramble for Africa, 1875 onwards

9. Nova Scotia is the First  The first instance of responsible government in the British Empire was achieved by the colony of Nova Scotia in January–February 1848 through the efforts of Joseph Howe.  New Brunswick was next in May 1848  PEI in 1851  Newfoundland in 1855

10. Responsible Government in the Canadas  LaFontaine and Baldwin formed a government in 1842 but resigned in 1843. In 1848 LaFontaine was asked by Queen Victoria to form the first administration under the new policy of responsible government  Lafontaine passed bills to abolish the tenure seigneuriale (seigneurial system) and grant amnesty to the leaders of the rebellions in Lower Canada who had been exiled

11. Why were the Reformers able to achieve responsible government?  Cooperation between Baldwin and LaFontaine showed English and French Canada could get along  British Empire moving towards Laissez-faire, free trade, no more mercantilism, less control over colonies, not exploitative (for white-settled colonies only)