Causes of the revolt in Upper Canada Flashcards
Was Britain aware of the tensions building in the Canadas?
Did petitions and political atigation only come from one of the Canadas?
Which was seen as more severe?
How much signatures did the 1828 petition of Lower Canada have?
What was London’s solution for the growing tensions? (appointment?)
What did this appointment advise against ammending? (When?) What did they recommend instead?
Which gov’t elected in 1830 had greater issues to worry about i.e. 1832 Great Reform Act rather than the Canadas?
-YES.
-NO. Petitions and political agitation came from both Canadas.
-Lower Canada was seen as more severe
-Its 1828 petition had 87,000 signatures.
-London’s solution was to appoint a parliamentary Canada Committee to report to the government and suggest remedies.
-The Committee reported in 1829 and advised against amending the 1791 Constitution
-Argued proper government would remedy the situation.
-The Whig government which was elected in 1830 had other things to worry about such as the 1832 Great Reform Act.
Did the Committee’s report lower some tensions in Canada?
What did Britain fail to do following this?
What did the Howick Act allow assemblies to do? What did Britain expect from this?
Why did Reformers from both Canadas refuse to vote for the Civils list throughout the 1830s?
-The Committee’s report did actually create some goodwill in Canada but Britain failed to capitalise on this.
-The Howick Act was introduced which allowed assemblies to control the revenues from duties. In return.
-Britain expected that the Civil List (payment of officials) would be passed.
-Reformers in Upper Canada & patriotes in Lower Canada refused to vote for the Civil List throughout the 1830s, due to the lack of constitutional reform.
What were the underlying causes of the rebellion in Upper Canada?
What were the short term causes? (Coulborne and Head?)(Radicaliness?)(Immigrants?)(Election?)
-The political system and the tight control of the Family Compact and the Anglican Church in Upper Canada were the underlying causes of rebellion.
-The situation deteriorated due to a number of short term causes:
-The emergence of a radical voice within the reform party.
-Concerns by established settlers about impoverished immigrants.
-The actions of lieutenant governors Colborne and Head.
-The results of the 1838 election.
Who were the constitutional and moderate reformers in Upper Canada led by? What idea did they develop regarding gov’t?
What type of reformer was William Lyon Mackenzie?
Who was his newspaper attacked by in 1826?
What did he begin by arguing for? What did this develop into?
-The constitutional and moderate reformers were led by Robert Baldwin.
-They developed the idea of responsible government.
-Mackenzie was a far less moderate reformer(Radical).
-Mackenzie’s newspaper had been attacked by the Family Compact in 1826.
-He began arguing for constitutional reform but increasingly argued that Canada should follow the American colonies and seek independence.
Which country had large numbers of immigration into Upper Canada during the 1830s?
Did they face any prejudice from longstanding members?
What scheme assisted poor immigrants? Was this praised by those in Upper Canada?
What two epidemics in the 1830s magnefied concerns regarding immigration?
-Irish immigration into Upper Canada during the 1830s meant that large areas had become noticeably Irish in character.
-Long-standing residents of Upper Canada shared the British prejudices against the Irish: that they were feckless diseased criminals.
-Poor immigrants were assisted by the Ops Township Scheme which assisted them with cheap shelter and supplies.
-NO. This was resented by Reformers.
-Concerns were magnified after two cholera epidemics during the 1830s.
What years was Sir John Colbourne Lieutenant Governor? Sir Francis Bond?
What did they believe their role was?
Who was more successful? What attribute did he have giving him this advantage?
What did he improve?
Who did Colborne bypass to raise funds for gov’t?
Although the majority in Upper Canada had asked to for the establishment of a university what did Colborne build instead?
Most controversially what did he do to sure up the Anglican church?
Did Head have any experience? What was he known for?
Where did he bring moderates into? Were these positions maintained?
What did Head do in the 1836 election? What subsuquently happened to the Reform Party?
-Sir John Colborne (in office 1828-35)
-Sir Francis Bond Head (In office 1815-38)
-Believed that they were there to govern and that all legislatures were there to be consulted.
-Colborne was more successful than Head and had more experience. He improved infrastructure.
-He also bypassed the legislative assembly to raise funds for the government.
-Set up a prep school using public funds rather than the university as many demanded.
-Most controversially, he allocated income from clergy reserves to the Anglican parishes in an attempt to shore up the Anglican church.
-Head had no previous experience but had an unjustified reputation as a reformer.
-He began by inviting moderates onto the Executive Council. NO, Head removed them when they complained that he had not consulted them when he should have.
-1836 election in which Head campaigned vigorously against the Reformers and he won but also radicalised the Reform party.
What did Head successfully achieve in the 1836 election?
What did the new assembly do to keep reformers out?
What could assembly members not also be in gov’t?
What was the purpose of this?
What did Mackenzie and many other reformers become convinced would only bring change?
What did they set up in response to this realisation?
What did Mackenzie also draft ?
-Head succeeded in beating the Reform Party out of the legislative assembly.
-The new assembly passed laws to keep reformers out.
-Legislative assembly members could not be Executive Councillors.
-This rarely happened but it was designed to keep assembly reformers from the Councils.
-Mackenzie and many within the Reform party became convinced that the only means for real change was rebellion.
-Committees of Correspondence were set up.
-He drafted the declaration of independence.
