Canada and the Durham Report - Topic 5.2 Flashcards
The revolts of 1837-38
What were the causes of the revolt in Upper Canada?
- The emergence of a more radical voice within the Reform Party
- The concerns of the established settlers about the impoverished new emigrants from Britain arriving to the province in the 1830s
- The actions of two successive lieutenant-governors, Colborne and Head
- The results of the 1836 Election
How did radical reformers help cause the revolt in Upper Canada?
Robert Baldwin (Moderate):
- Developing the definition of responsible government
- Was in London during the rebellion and so the events were led by a far less moderate voice of Reformers
William Lyon Mackenzie (Radical):
- He ran a newspaper that was attacked by the Family Compact, making him a genuine victim of persecution and aiding his reputation as a reformer enormously
- Began his career arguing that reforms to the current system would be sufficient but as the 1830s progressed, he looked to the States more for inspiration and began arguing for independence
How did emigration help cause the revolt in Upper Canada?
Irish emigration into Upper Canada in the 1830s meant that virtually the whole of Upper Canada east of Toronto and north of the olrder loyalist settlements became noticeably Irish in character. Americans emigrating into the province from the 1790s to 1820s were always seen as suspicious and the longer-standing residents of the provinces shared the same prejudices against poor Irish emigrants coomon in Britain.
Poor immigrants were assisted by the Ops Township scheme with temporary shelters and cheap supplies funded by the government. Reformers objected to the costs of the programme and the Family Compact objected to the increase in the poor immigrants who were unlikely to support their control. Cholera epidemics in 1832 and ‘34 and the impact of a financial crisis in 1837 in America, affected the stability of the province.
How did Colborne and Head help to cause the revolt in Upper Canada?
Lt. Gov. Sir John Colborne (1828-1835):
- Improved the infrastructure of the province, however, he bypassed the legislative assembly by using tax revenues to pay officials’ salaries and by setting up a classic English preparatory school, rather than the university some voices in the colony were calling for, using public funds
- His most controversial action prompted his removal from his political position and appointment in the subordinate role of military commander-in-chief for Canada. It was the allocation of the income from clergy reserves for the ongoing support for 44 Anglican parishes across the province in an attempt to establish yet more firmly the Anglican Church as settlement across the province increased. This was highly provocative
Lt. Gov. Sir Francis Head (1835-1838):
- Initially invited some moderates onto the executive committee, but he then forced them from office when they complained that they had not been consulted on issues they deemed to be within their remit. This prompted the 1836 Election
How did election interference help to cause the revolt in Upper Canada?
The 1836 Election delivered a pro-government majority which Head had personally intervened in. The new assembly passed a number of laws intended to shore up their position and prevent the Reformers from challenging them:
- A law extending the session of the legislative
- A law preventing members of the legislature from serving as executive councillors; this rarely happened in practice, but to codify with legislation was an obvious attempt by the Family Compact to perpetuate their hold on government as future governor would be prevented from appointing Reformers from within the legislative assembly to the more powerful executive body
What were the causes of the revolt in Lower Canada?
- The leadership of the patriotes under Papineau
- Economic and social issues in the province
- The Gosford Commission of Inquiry and the British decision about the colony which resulted from its findings
How did Papineau help to cause the revolt in Lower Canada?
Descendant of an old seigneurial family, he had been prominent in Lower Canadian politics for many years. He became increasing anti-British during the 1830s and under his leadership, the assembly refused to accept any of the compromises offered by the British regarding control of finances in the province. He steadfastly refused to agree in favour of the Civil List to pay the salaries of officials. His opposition to the British stemmed from French-Canadian nationalism and he was opposed to any change in the seigneurial land system, unlike other members of the Patriot Party.
How did the economy help to cause the revolt in Lower Canada?
The Lower Canadian economy didn’t perform well during the 1830s and the hardship suffered by the habitants, coupled with general social unease resulting from increased immigration, meant that the population became increasingly radical. The immigrants brought with them the dreaded cholera and there was an outbreak in 1832, which increased tensions to the point that the military fired on a crowd during the 1832 Election and two men were shot. The patriotes benefited from the hard times as so much of their rhetoric was that of the American Revolution that their supporters could be forgiven for confusing them with genuine radicals. Certainly, by 1834, the more radical wing of the Patriot Party was emerging as the stronger voice in the assembly and in the province too.
The British were scrambling to pay the salaries of officials, as the assembly, led by Papnieau, was intransigent in its opposition to British proposals for shared economic control of the province.
How did the Gosford mission help cause the revolt in Lower Canada?
Gosford may have been able to make some progress had Francis Head not disclosed the full terms of the inquiry to the assembly in Upper Canada in Jan. 1836. This caused outrage in Lower Canada as the full terms of the brief showed that the British had no intention of engaging in the kind of constitutional reform the patriotes were calling for.
The ten Russell Resolutions were passed by the Commons in March 1837, rejecting the constitutional reform called for in the 92 Resolution proposed by Papineau and allowing the governor to use the public funds without consent of the assemblies. Lower Canada also owed Britain £142,160 14s 6d for the payment of British official, which had gone unpaid over the crisis years.
The patriotes held large public meetings throughout May and called for the boycott of British goods and free trade with the US. Gosford increased the military presence in the province and proclaim the banning of protest meetings, followed by all public meetings. Banks closed in mid-May and the assembly met in August and refused to accept British demands, it adjourned, preparing for revolt.
What were the events and results of the revolt in Upper Canada?
- After hearing Lower Canada was in revolt, Mackenzie launched a revolt in Upper Canada. About 1,000 men of American-original farmers gathern in Toronto, attacking property and businesses who were members of the Family Compact
- Several hundred poorly armed and organised rebels march south on Yonge Street and exchanged gunfire with a smaller group of loyalists. The bulk of the rebel force fled in a state of confusion once the firing started
- 3 days later, the remaining rebels were dispersed. A small, second confrontation took place soon afterwards but again disappeared
- Mackenzie and other rebel leaders fled to Navy Island in Niagara River, where he dcleared a provisional state. Mackenzie fled the island when their American supply ship was burned and he was captured by the US military
Thousands of rebel sympathisers left for America, those who stayed were arrested, and two were hanged. After 1837, those who advocated for an American-style revolution either fled or kept their opinions to themselves. The British were convinced the events were largely down to the Family Compact , leading to moderate voice of the Reform Party to get the attention of Lord Durham.
What were the events and results of the revolt in Lower Canada?
- In Sept./Oct., 500 or more members of the paramilitary Societe des Fils de la Liberte held public meetings in Montreal
- The Confederation of the Six Counties meet in late Oct. and start preparing for war
- Streeting fighting broke out in early November between the Doric Club and the Societe
- Fighting and exchanges of gun fire ensued for the next month under martial law was declared in early Dec.
- 100 patriotes flee from a burning church in St Eustache are shot
- Gosford has the situation in Canada under control and the patriotes are either prisoners or have fled to America, while the British burn houses ok know patriotes and those are believed to have sheltered them
Over 500 patriotes were jailed in Montreal. The 1791 Constitution was suspended in February 1838 and Gosford empowered to run the province with a special council of appointed members. He revoked martial law in Montreal two months later. Britain now saw that French-Canadians should no longer be able to command a majority in any assembly, at the same time as reining in the Chateau Clique.
