9) The Rebellions and Their Consequences

Question 1

The Rebellions of 1837 and 1838

Answer 1

Certain members of the Parti Patriote became more radical (wanted to be armed) and planned to overthrow the government. Reform members of Upper Canada in the legislative assembly also became more radical.

Question 2

Popular Assemblies

Answer 2

In 1837, members of the Parti Patriote organized popular assemblies in order to go against the Russel Resolutions. Louis-Joseph Papineau called the population to boycott products imported from the United Kingdom to bring imbalance to their economy.

Question 3

What did Governor Gosford do to respond to the Patriotes?

Answer 3

He responded with repression, holding back from violence.

Question 4

What else did Gosford do?

Answer 4

In 1837, he banned popular assemblies in Lower Canada for fear of a revolt.

Question 5

What happened when the parliamentary session opened?

Answer 5

The Parti members in the assembly refused to vote, so the government responded by dissolving the Assembly.

Question 6

What happened after the dissolving of the assembly?

Answer 6

Some radical members of the Parti Patriote found the Fils de la Liberté or Sons of Liberty. They were supposed to take up arms against the British. The group was also a response to the Doric Club, a group of radical Anglo-Canadiens who wanted to take up arms against the Parti Patriote.

Question 7

What did the Parti organize?

Answer 7

An Assembly of the six countries on October 23.

Question 8

What did Papineau annonce in front of 5000 people?

Answer 8

To encourage the boycotting of British goods and to not be radicalized, and that they should organize a parallel government (another government within Lower Canada to help gain independence.

Question 9

Who responded to Papineau’s announcement?

Answer 9

Other leaders of the Parti like Wolfred Nelson disagreed with him and called for an armed revolt.

Question 10

How did Gosford react?

Answer 10

He issued arrest warrants for leaders of the Parti Patriote. Papineau, Ludger Duvernay and Robert Nelson were all accused of high treason which was a crime punishable by death.

Question 11

What did the three leaders do?

Answer 11

They escaped to the United States because they couldn’t get charged for treason there.

Question 12

What did Wolfred Nelson do?

Answer 12

He prepared his troops to battle against the British

Question 13

Ludger Duvernay

Answer 13

He was the owner and editor of the newspaper La Minerve. He wrote a piece that explained that the Legislative Council should be elected and not appointed.

Question 14

Armed Conflict

Answer 14

In 1837, there was the first confrontation between the Patriotes and British army at Saint-Denis. Since it was a surprise attack, the Patriotes beat the British using rifles and pitchforks. The British regrouped and defeated the Patriotes in every battle afterwards.

Question 15

Battle of Saint-Eustache

Answer 15

In 1837, 250 Patriotes were killed in Saint-Eustache in a battle against 1200 people (including British army and militiamen). The British army opened cannon fire on a church where the Patriotes had found a safe place.

Question 16

What was the Liberal Bourgeoisie’s attitude towards the rebellions?

Answer 16

They supported the Patriotes demands, but some supported radicals and others supported reformers.

Question 17

What was the clergy’s attitude towards the rebellions?

Answer 17

They opposed it, because the Patriotes supported the separation of the church and state.

Question 18

What were the seigneurs attitude towards the rebellions?

Answer 18

They were against the Patriotes because their liberal ideas include the abolishment of privileged positions and seigneuries.

Question 19

What was the general populations attitude towards the rebellion?

Answer 19

Supported them and demonstrated their support during elections.

Question 20

Who supported the British?

Answer 20

About 8000 individuals took up arms against the British.

Question 21

What did Robert Nelson and the Canadiens declare for?

Answer 21

Independence of Lower Canada, they wanted to break ties that held Lower Canada within the British empire. The British authorities did not recognize the declaration of independence.

Question 22

What did a group of Canadiens found?

Answer 22

The Association des Frères Chasseurs, with the goal of preparing a second rebellion. The United States helped by giving them weapons, and they continued to fight in 1838.

Question 23

Wolfred and Robert Nelson

Answer 23

Wolfred was a surgeon in a British unit entirely of Canadien members during the war of 1812. Wolfred was arrested for his role of Parti leader. Robert was involved in the declaration of independence in 1838. He helped prepare for the second rebellion.

Question 24

End of rebellions in Lower Canada

Answer 24

It ended in a massive failure. Many Patriotes were imprisoned and were sentenced to death. Some were deported to Australia which was a prison colony. Five Patriote leaders including Thomas Chevalier and Lorimier were hanged. Their execution marked the end of the rebellions.

Question 25

Rebellions in Upper Canada

Answer 25

In 1837-1838 there was also discontent in Upper Canada. Reform members in the Assembly demanded that members of the Legislative Council be elected than appointed. Reform members were opposed to the Family Compact.

Question 26

What was the Family Compact?

Answer 26

A group of British politicians and officials from powerful families who led the Legislative council and was close to the governor. They would pay taxes on things that would benefit themselves.

Question 27

What did members of the reform party do?

Answer 27

The reform party of Upper Canada led by William Lyon Mackenzie King took up arms and headed for Toronto. The British militia beat them. They lost in every other battle.

Question 28

What did the British crown do to respond to rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada?

Answer 28

They suspended the constitution of Lower Canada, and the legislative assembly and council was dissolved. London replaced it with a special council which governed Lower Canada between 1838 and 1840. There were only appointed officials on the council.

Question 29

Who did London appoint as Governor for both Canadas?

Answer 29

Lord Durham. He was told to investigate the events of rebellions and propose solutions to the crisis. In January 1839, he submitted his report.

Question 30

What were the main elements of Durham’s report?

Answer 30

Elected representatives had limited power, since the council rejected any laws they passed, so he proposed to have a responsible government. The majority of elected representatives in the Legislative Assembly were French Canadians. He proposed to unite the two Canada’s and merge them into one legislative assembly, dominated by the British. French Canadiens were the majority of population, so he proposed to adopt English as the only official language and to promote British Immigration so that Canadiens hold a minority.

Question 31

What were the Canadiens response to his report?

Answer 31

They didn’t like it because they couldn’t be independent if they merged. They believed their language, culture and institutions were at risk.

Question 32

What were the British responses to the report?

Answer 32

The business bourgeoisie opposed to it because they would lose their influence. Reformers in the legislative assembly approved it. Overall British colonists approved the union of two Canada’s because they believed it would stimulate their economy. Family compact opposed it because they would lose power.