Canadian History Terms 1763-1867 Flashcards
The Royal Proclamation 1763
On October 7, 1763, King George III issued a Royal Proclamation for the administration of British territories in North America. The Royal Proclamation served as a new foundation for relations between the First Nations and the British.
• Under the Royal Proclamation, as it became necessary, Britain would negotiate with First Nations to reach treaties that would open-up more land for colonial settlement.
• Britain took control of this process assuming that the Royal Proclamation, not the First Nations or colonists, should decide when and where these negotiations should take place.
• Britain hoped that restricting westward settlement would cause colonists in search of land to come north, to Quebec. This would decrease the Canadien majority and eventually force the colonists to assimilate into British colonial culture. The Royal Proclamation officially established the province Quebec and also gave the French residents their first civil government
• French laws were abolished, and people had to take the Serment du Test (which was an oath where people swore they were a member of the Anglican Church). The Serment du Test had to be taken to participate in government.
• The Province of Quebec’s boundaries had been restricted to the St. Lawrence Valley and residents had to apply for a permit from the governor to travel west of the boundaries
While the Royal Proclamation established the rights of First Nations in the West, other citizens of British North America were not pleased.
• The landholding elites and the French-speaking religious felt threatened because the the French laws that protected their positions in Quebec were removed
• The proclamation had the goal of increasing English-speaking immigration to Quebec
• However, in the following years few British immigrants arrived and the Canadien population remained the majority
It is historically significant because the Proclamation is a foundational document marking the beginning of Canada’s historic link with Great Britain and British parliamentary institutions. It was also important in establishing the core elements of the relationship between First Nation people and the Crown, recognizing First Nation rights in Canada and defining the treaty-making process that is still used
Pontiac’s Resistance
Pontiac was an Odawa First Nation war chief.
• He was an ally to the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
• After the fall of Nouvelle-France, he tried to build alliances with the British but was unsuccessful.
• After seeing his people suffer under British rule, he decided to do something about it.
• While it failed to drive out the British from Indigenous land, Pontiac’s war was the most successful First Nations resistance against the Europeans.
• In 1763, the allied First Nations quickly overtook 9 out of the 12 British forts in the North and West regions of the 13 colonies.
• First Nations controlled all forts in the Ohio Valley except for Fort Detroit, Fort Niagara, and Fort Pitt (which was originally Fort Duquesne). It appeared that Pontiac’s plan to unite the First Nations would be successful.
• By the end of 1763 conflicts had ended and peace negotiations began. In 1766, Pontiac signed a peace treaty with the British at Fort Ontario
• Pontiac allowed the British to take back the forts but stipulated that First Nations hunting grounds were to be protected from settlement.
• Pontiac also affirmed the position that the French were only occupying the land temporarily and that the British did not have the right to claim the land because the French had been defeated. This is historically significant because Pontiac’s War was the most successful First Nations resistance to the European invasion in our history. Though it failed to oust the British from Indigenous lands, the conflict forced British authorities to a recognition of Indigenous rightsthat has had had far-reaching consequences down to our own time.
The Quebec Act 1774
This act revoked the Royal Proclamation and enlarged Quebec’s territory into the Ohio Valley
• The Quebec Act guaranteed French language rights and allowed Roman Catholics to assume some roles within the colony’s governance
• French property and civil laws were reinstated, however, British criminal laws were kept
• A tithe was reinstated as well to support the Catholic Church, which made Church
officials feel more secure as income was guaranteed
• Seigneurs felt secure too as their land rights were now guaranteed due to the return of French civil law
• Governor James Murray and Sir Guy Carleton ignored demands for an elected assembly out of fear that it would create instability
• Carleton chose to govern with an appointed council instead
• Other British colonies had elected assemblies, but the governors and executive councils had most of
the power
• British residents in Quebec felt as if they were living in a foreign colony
• The Quebec Act was seen as an abuse of Britain’s power (territory, religion, language, government
Canadiens given all these rights now to prevent Quebec from joining the American cause(appeasement)
Historically significant because it granted emancipation for the Catholic, French-speaking settlers of the province. The act repealed the loyalty oath and reinstated French civil law in combination with British criminal law.
The American War of Independence
• The war was from 1776-1783 in BNA The 13 colonies were separate entities until their joint anger towards the British caused them to unite
• 12 of the 13 colonies met at the First Continental Congress in 1774 where they agreed to boycott British trade
• On July 4, 1776, the rebels drafted the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress
• This stated that the 13 colonies were no longer part of the British Empire
• The 13 colonies hoped the Canadiens would support their cause and rebels posted copies of their statements around Quebec City and Montreal
• The British hoped that the Quebec Act appeased the Canadiens and that they would not join the rebels in their plan to overthrow the British
• 1n 1775, American rebels attacked Quebec City and Montreal and were met with indifference from most Canadiens
• Some Canadiens went to fight the British but most remained neutral
• In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the American War of Independence
• Britain had many financial difficulties toward the end of the war
• The Treaty of Paris recognized British North America’s right to exist independently from the new country now know as the United States of America
• New boundary lines were included in the treaty and were generous to the United States • America gained control over the Ohio Valley The American War of Independence can be regarded as the first successful democratic movement in modern history. The victory of the American colonies not only meant the birth of a new nation but it also implied the victory of the system of democracy. The popular will in making a government was firmly established.
Loyalists
• The Loyalists were a group of people who remained loyal to the British after the American War of Independence.
• After the war, the loyalists were bewildered over how a small group of rebels (also called patriots) could defeat a great empire like Great Britain.
• Loyalists began to arrive in BNA just after war broke out, but most evacuated by ship in New York between 1783 and 1784
• Between 1782 and 1784, roughly 35, 000 loyalist families settled in Nova Scotia, with the loyalists outnumbering the rest of the population
• Roughly 10, 000 loyalist families settled in Quebec
• Close to 100, 000 loyalists migrated to BNA during this time
• There were so many loyalists on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy that they demanded more political autonomy
• In 1784 this area separated from Novia Scotia to become New Brunswick
Political reasons: the United Empire Loyalists remained loyal to the British crown even after the American War of Independence. They opposed the rebellion and faced persecution and discrimination in the United States after the Treaty of Paris was signed.
• Social reasons: the loyalists were socially ostracized in the United States. They faced discrimination and violence and migrated to escape the repercussions
• Economic: loyalists lost their properties and businesses during the changes that resulted from the war. Migrating to BNA allowed the loyalists to start fresh and have access to new economic opportunities
• Incentives: The British government offered loyalists land grants and financial compensation
Among the loyalists were conscientious objectors that chose not fight for certain reasons
• Neutral = persecution
• There were also “land loyalists” that hoped to take advantage of the free land that was offered to the loyalists in BNA
• Some loyalists were wealthy, but most brought only what they could carry
• The land promised had many short comings
• Years long wait for land grants, no roads or services at land grants, life was so hard that some loyalists moved back to the United States or Britain, some survived harsh winters due to the assistance of Fist Nations people
Black and First Nations loyalists
Tens of thousands of Loyalists migrated to British North America during and after the war. This boosted the population, led to the creation of Upper Canada and New Brunswick, and heavily influenced the politics and culture of what would become Canada. Created majority English speaking
The Constitutional Act 1791
Impacted the political structure and governance of BNA and replace the Royal Proclamation
• It recognized two important groups: French and English
• Each group had different political, religious, and legal outlooks. They also had different land-owning traditions, so Sir Guy Carleton created Upper (Ontario) and Lower (Quebec) Canada
The 1791 Constitutional Act provided for the continuation of civil law in Lower Canada and implicitly guaranteed the right of Canadians to use French in the courts and in practising the Catholic faith.
The Constitutional Act of 1791 was an important piece of legislation in the history of Canada. It was a British law that divided the Province of Quebec into two separate colonies: Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) and Lower Canada (present-day Quebec). The act had several significant historical implications:
Division of Quebec: The Constitutional Act of 1791 created the two distinct colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. This division was primarily based on language and religion, with Lower Canada being predominantly French-speaking and Catholic, while Upper Canada was predominantly English-speaking and Protestant. The division aimed to address the political and cultural differences between the two populations.
Representative Government: The act introduced a representative form of government in both Upper and Lower Canada. It established legislative assemblies in each colony, allowing elected representatives to participate in lawmaking and decision-making processes. This marked an important step towards responsible government and the development of democratic institutions in Canada.
Protection of French Language and Culture: The Constitutional Act of 1791 was significant in preserving French language, laws, and customs in Lower Canada. It guaranteed the French-speaking population the right to practice their religion and maintain their civil law system, ensuring the preservation of their distinct culture and identity within the British Empire.
Land Tenure Reforms: The act also introduced changes to land tenure in both Upper and Lower Canada. It implemented a system of land grants, which facilitated the settlement and development of the colonies. The land tenure reforms had a lasting impact on the patterns of land ownership and the socio-economic development of Canada.
Influence on Canadian Confederation: The Constitutional Act of 1791 established a precedent for constitutional changes in Canada. It demonstrated the willingness of the British government to accommodate the distinct needs and interests of different regions within the colony. This precedent would later influence discussions and negotiations leading to the Canadian Confederation in 1867, when multiple British colonies in North America joined together to form the Dominion of Canada.
Overall, the Constitutional Act of 1791 played a crucial role in shaping the political, cultural, and institutional foundations of Canada. It divided Quebec, established representative government, protected French language and culture, implemented land tenure reforms, and set a precedent for future constitutional developments.
The War of 1812 pt.1
• Tensions continued between the British and the United States even after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783
• The British still occupied and had not vacated posts in the Ohio Valley, even though they promised to do so
• Americans also believed that the British were encouraged hostility from the First Nations towards settlers moving west
• Britain seized ships sailing from America, that contained trade goods, on their way to France.
• The British also boarded American ships in search of deserters from the British Navy (impressment).
• The British would sometimes force American sailors into service with Britain (military shortage, war with France, deserters).
• Britain was also upset by the treatment of the Loyalists and the inability to claim debts owed before the war
• President George Washington sent John Jay, a negotiator, to London to avoid another war
• British and American negotiators bargained over new treaty terms that would resolve their differences
• In November 1794, The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation (Jay’s Treaty) was signed
• The treaty focused on issues between the British and the United States:
• Joint commissions or an independent person would help settle disputes concerning boundaries and debts
• Britain agreed to abandon posts in the Ohio Valley by 1796
• The United States recognized rights of the First Nations peoples to trade and move freely
across the boarder between BNA and the United States
• First Nations lands were not given protection in the signing of the treaty
• Trading agreements were established (Britain “most favored nation” status, removal of trade barriers, compensation for seized American ships)
• Terms expired In 10 years
• Not everyone was satisfied with Jay’s treaty
• James Madison and Thomas Jefferson objected to close ties to Britain
• Britain abandoned forts in the Ohio Valley, but Americans were still suspicious about British involvement in First Nations community uprisings in the west
• Britain was still at war with France and boarding American ships
• By 1812, the War Hawks believed Britain was hindering their political and economic goals
It began on July 12, 1812 when General William Hull invaded Upper Canada with 2,000 men
• Hull occupied Sandwich (present-day Windsor, Ontario)
• Propaganda was issued to convince people not to oppose the invasion
• Response from the Upper Canadians was questionable (loyalist population)
• Some Loyalists were “land Loyalists” and the British worried that they would welcome Hull’s invasion
• Not long after the invasion of Sandwich, American troops had supply problems and retreated to Fort Detroit
Sir Isaac Brock had been the head of British forces in Canada since 1811
• Brock did not want to wait out another attack from the Americans, so he joined forces with Tecumseh, who was the leader of the Shawnee First Nation
• Tecumseh’s territory was in the Ohio Valley. Britain promised to support his claim to the territory in return for Tecumseh’s help
• Tecumseh and Brock planned an evasion on Fort Detroit and executed their attack on August 16.
• Tecumseh/Brock numbered 1,300 against the opposing force of 2,000
• Hull surrendered quickly to Tecumseh’s forces
• This quick defeat helped to build support towards the fight against the Americans
• Canada believed they could win the war and more men began to sign up when calls for militia went out
The War Of 1812 pt.2
THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS
• This battle was fought over a portion of the Niagara escarpment that overlooked Queenston.
• American General, Stephen Van Rensselaer, was under intense pressure from George Washington to undo the failure of loosing to seemingly inferior forces at Detroit.
• On the evening of October 12, 1812, American forces launched an invasion by crossing the Niagara River into Upper Canada.
• Isaac Brock was convinced enemy forces would cross further down the river towards Fort George.
• There was an initial attempt to take Queenston, however, it was so poorly orchestrated that Brock thought it was a feint attempt, so his forces were not consolidated at queenston
• Before dawn on October 13, Van Rensselaer made a second attempt on Queenston Heights.
• Once the American reached the escarpment, they discovered a hidden path and seized a British-Canadian gun-emplacement. This gave the Americans control of the battle
• Isaac Brock awoke to the sound of gunshots at Fort George and quickly rode to Queenston.
• Brock made an attempt to reclaim the gun-emplacement and charged forward with a drawn sword
• Brock was an easy target for snipers, and he was shot and died almost instantly
THE BATTLE OF THAMES
• The battle took place on October 5, 1813
• American Captain Oliver H. Perry was victorious in the battle at Put-In-Bay on Lake Erie (September 10, 1813).
• Due to this victory, the entire western peninsula of Upper Canada faced the danger of falling into the enemy’s hands.
• Major General Henry Procter, who commanded the British and Canadian forces west of Burlington, fell short on supplies and retreated up the River Thames
• Tecumseh protested the retreat as he and his people were very eager to fight the American troops
• Tecumseh began to question the willingness of the British to fight the Americans and feared that the British would betray the First Nations
• Tecumseh believed that retreating would leave First Nations settlements west of Detroit at risk and urged Procter to confront American forces, not retreat
• Procter convinced Tecumseh to trust him, and Procter took his stand near Moraviantown
• Tecumseh was killed by gunfire as the battle in the swamp continued
THE TREATY OF GHENT
• The war ended in a stalemate
• The Threat of Ghent was signed in Belgium on December 24,1814, which officially stopped the war between the British and the Americans.
• Negotiations for peace began the year before and both parties agreed to meet in Europe to further discuss details
• Neither side made territorial, political, or economic gains from the war.
• Britain wanted to guarantee land for First Nations in the Ohio Valley, but did not push the idea during negotiations
POPULATION BOOM
• Immigration to BNA increased drastically between 1812 to the end of the 1840s
• Between 1784 and 1815, approximately 25,000 people immigrated to BNA
• Between 1815 and 1875, approximately 960,000 immigrated to BNA from Britain alone
• The population also grew form natural increase, especially in lower Canada
• Growth in population resulted in further development of agricultural land, towns, cities, more canals • This also kickstarted the beginning of railway building across colonies
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES
• BNA changed drastically from the Quebec Act in 1774
• Canadiens were still a majority in Lower Canada, although British, American, and African American immigrants changed population mix in some areas of the colony
• During the American Civil War from 1861-1865, the African American grew by 40,000 people
• Canada’s Slavery Abolition Act took effect in 1834
• Slavery had been practiced in Canada since the early days of Nouvelle-France
• The practice continued into BNA especially among them
• Both Black and First Nations people were kept as slaves
• Once slavery was abolished in 1834, many escaped slaves and African Americans looked to British territory for a new life
• Many African American refugees settled in Nova Scotia, the west, and Upper Canada
• First Nations’ interests were always lost to colonist demands because of growing population and demands for land
• Since First nations were not needed as allies in war anymore, they were ignored by colonial and British governments
• The Gradual Civilization Act was passed by the Province of Canada in 1857 with the goal of assimilating First Nations people
• The Loyalist migration created the beginnings of the middle class
• Loyalists created businesses, notably in timber, textiles industries, and tanning
• Trades were also pursued and so were professions such as banking and law
• Schools were built and services in towns were created that generated population increases to the towns
• Towns were governed under British law and many Loyalists believed that British laws and institutions were the best
• Influence from the United States carried over with the Loyalists because many firmly believed that that it was their right to have a government responsive to their wishes
The War of 1812 brought the United States onto the world’s stage
The Great Migration 1815-1850
The Great Migration of Canada (also known as the Great Migration from Britain or the second wave of immigration to Canada) was a period of high immigration to Canada from 1815 to 1850, which involved over 800,000 immigrants, mainly of British and Irish origin.
Many motivations brought immigrants to Canada: greater economic opportunity and improved quality of life, an escape from oppression and persecution, and opportunities and adventures presented to ‘desirable’ immigrant groups by Canadian immigration agencies.
shifted the demographics of British North America.
1837 Rebellions
• Papineau and Mackenzie attempted to pass laws to create changes to political and economic structures, but their reforms were vetoed by the executive and legislative councils.
• In 1834, Lower Canada’s assembly passed a reform bill called the Ninety-Two Resolutions. • It demanded that appointed councils be more receptive to the elected assembly.
• The assembly sent the resolutions to the British government, only for it to have negative reception 3 years later
• In 1835, the executive council vetoed a similar reform bill from Mackenzie called The Seventh Report on Grievances
ROAD TO REBELLION
• As patience was tested, radical groups began to form in Upper and Lower Canada which caused a split in the Reform movement between the radicals who wanted to work within the law.
• In Lower Canada, some reformers rallied around the les Fils de la Liberte which was named after an American rebel group that fought against the British in the American War of Independence.
• Those who associated with the rebels were called Patriotes.
REBELLION BREAKS OUT
• During 1837, unrest grew in Lower Canada.
• Protest rallies and violence occurred on the streets of Montreal as a result of discontent.
• On November 16, government troops attempted to arrest Patriote leaders in Longueuil.
• By November 25, several towns in Lower Canada had been burned and looted by government troops and rebel leaders fled.
• On December 4, Mackenzie called his followers to meet at Montgomery’s Tavern near Toronto.
• On December 7, armed with as many weapons as they could find, they marched towards the city but
were forced to retreat when they were met with militia.
• Rebellions ended on December 8 and rebel forces were defeated with their leaders on the run.
AFTERMATH
• Hundreds of rebels were imprisoned and, in Lower Canada, 12 Patriotes were hanged for treason.
• In Upper Canada, approximately 20 rebels were hanged.
• Mackenzie and Papineau sought political asylum in the United States and were later pardoned.
• Lord Durham, the new Governor General, was sent to recommend solutions for the issues that caused the rebellions.
• Lord Durham was in BNA for a brief period of time but made proposals that changed how Canada would be governed.
It led to the Act of Union, which merged the two colonies into the Province of Canada. It also resulted in the introduction of responsible government
Upper and lower Canada
Leads to Durham report and democaracy
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a leader for the Reform Movement in Upper Canada
• His newspaper, The Political Advocate, was used to expose economical, social, and political injustices in the Constitutional Act and the Family Compact
He played a major role in laying the foundations of the Canadian welfare state and established Canada’s international reputation as a middle power fully committed to world order. With a total of 21 years and 154 days in office, he remains the longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history.
1795-1861
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph was a leader in Lower Canada
• He and other leaders in Lower Canada and his Parti Patriote used a newspaper named Le Canadien to spread their views
• He believed that Canadiens should be able to determine their own future and not be governed by an English-speaking minority
1786-1871
Papineau and Mackenzie attempted to pass laws to create changes to political and economic structures, but their reforms were vetoed by the executive and legislative councils.
• In 1834, Lower Canada’s assembly passed a reform bill called the Ninety-Two Resolutions. • It demanded that appointed councils be more receptive to the elected assembly.
• The assembly sent the resolutions to the British government, only for it to have negative reception 3 years later
• In 1835, the executive council vetoed a similar reform bill from Mackenzie called The Seventh Report on Grievances
ROAD TO REBELLION
• As patience was tested, radical groups began to form in Upper and Lower Canada which caused a split in the Reform movement between the radicals who wanted to work within the law.
• In Lower Canada, some reformers rallied around the les Fils de la Liberte which was named after an American rebel group that fought against the British in the American War of Independence.
• Those who associated with the rebels were called Patriotes.
Durham Report
He found two specific problems in both Canadas.
• In Upper Canada, blame for the rebellions was placed on the Family Compact. He called it a “petty, corrupt, insolent Tory clique”.
• He called for a government that would be more responsive to the wishes of the majority in the assembly
• In Lower Canada, blame was placed on the division between the French and the English
• He recommended the union of the Canadas into one colony with the goal of assimilating Lower Canda’s residents
Lord Durham, the new Governor General, was sent to recommend solutions for the issues that caused the rebellions.
• Lord Durham was in BNA for a brief period of time but made proposals that changed how Canada would be governed.
led to a series of reforms and changes. These included uniting the two Canadas into a single colony, the Province of Canada, in 1841. The report also paved the way for responsible government
The act of Union 1841
• This act united both Upper and Lower Canada into one colony called the Province of Canada
• Lower Canada becomes Canada East, Upper Canada becomes Canada West
• The Province of Canada would have one governor, one elected assembly, and
English would become the one language in legislature
• Since there were more French Canadians than English Canadians at the time, it was decided that Canada East and Canada West would have equal representation
ACT OF UNION, 1841
• The French-speaking Canadians believed that the purpose of the union was to assimilate the French Canadians and erode French influence
• Canada East voted as a group in assembly to shut down policies that would originate in Canada West
• Canada West parties had different political agendas and the two could hardly vote together on anything
• Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte Fontaine of Canada East formed a coalition and believed that they could achieve responsible government by working together
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Robert Baldwin 1804-1858
ACT OF UNION, 1841
• The 3 governors of Canada from 1840-1846, Lord Sydenham , Sir Charles Bagot, and Sir Charles Metcalfe attempted to the keep the Family Compact and the Chateau Clique afloat, but the Baldwin-Lafontaine coalition persisted.
• By late 1840s, Britain adopted free trade and due to this the declining need for economic control over its colonies led many to believe that Britain should not have as much political control either
• This was a favourable attitude in Britain towards granting responsible government
It united the colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada under one government, creating the Province of Canada.
Origins of Confederation
Political union (1867) of BNA colonies.
• Following the Quebec Conference, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Canada East, and PEI debated whether or not to join the union.
• The cancellation of the Reciprocity Treaty in America left New Brunswick with few alternatives to
Confederation.
• The Fenlan Raids changed the anti-Confederation minds of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
• In Canada East, the hope that Confederation would protect French Canadian culture narrowly swayed Canada East’s pro-Confederation stance.
• Anti-Confederation sentiments in PEl and Newfoundland remained popular
Confederation offered Britain an honourable way to ease its economic and military burden in North America. It would also give its BNA colonies strength through unity. The Dominion of Canada wasn’t born out of revolution, or a sweeping outburst of nationalism.
