Learning From Past Misrakes: Canada And The Durham Report Flashcards
Quebec act
•1774
• after the 7 years war the British gained the province of quesbec from France
• French Canadians were allowed to remain Roman Catholic
• French civil law reinstated
• Quebec doubled in size.
Canada act 1791
• a compromise by the British PM, William Pitt the younger in order to manage and keep Canada calm and under control following American independence
• Canada divided into two
• upper Canada made up of British loyalists who had fled America
• lower Canada mostly French Canadians
The political system in Canada
• both colonies had governors appointed by the British government
• both governors were supported by an executive council and a legislative council appointed by British for life
• both had a seperate legislative assembely responsible for tax and domestic matters
• however, legislative council could veto anything the legislative assembly passed.
• land owners could vote for representatives in the legislative assembely.
Upper Canada politics (family compact)
• A group of powerful men, ‘the family compact’ held power though the executive council and were elected for life
• They controlled business, politics and the religious affairs of the colony.
• Almost all Anglican church members.
• Loyal to Britain
• legislative council comprised an upper house of seven, who were elected for life And controlled by executive council
• legislative assembely compromised of 16 men who were elected by landowning males. They had power to raise taxes.
Laws passed by legislative assembely had to be approved by legislative council and were often blocked.
Lower Canada politics
• practices french law and Roman Catholicism under the Quebec act 1774
• the powerful English speaking group were known as the chateau clique and dominated both the executive and legislative councils They controlled revenues, patronage and land grants
• French speaking population was larger in lower Canada and so they dominated the legislative assembly and worked to block actions by the chateau clique.
What was the constitutional act 1791
Made the political system how it is with the executive and legislative councils etc…
Landownership in upper Canada
Based on British freehold tenure
One seventh of all land was designed as clergy reserves.
Landownership in lower Canada
Land was granted to a seigneur who would grant land to tenants to substiance farm in exchange for rents
75-80% of rural population lived in seigneurial land.
Tensions in upper Canada
Lacked infrastructure, capital investment and has a very small population
Government was struggling for cash, and in order to get money they did controversial things like sidestepping assemblies.
Tensions in lower Canada
French speaking but assembly in English. They didn’t like this. Formed an impotent block.
1791 constitution act brought some policies in upper and lower, English dominated, French felt attacked
The threat of America
Britain hoped the Quebec act would stop revolt in lower Canada by helping them with religious freedom, they hoped any American like attempt would he unsuccessful.
Wanted to do things differently so repeated of the 13 colonies would not reoccur.
What changes did the new Whig government in 1830 bring to Britain
• 1832 great reform act
• 1833 abolition of slavery
• 1834 poor laws amendment act
• increased electorate from 366k to 650k - 18% male pop
• men who owned property worth at least £10 could vote.
• only men who could pay to stand for elections could be MPs
• abolished rotten boroughs and provided seats in the new industrialised cities
• introduced the first explicit bar to women voting, by defining a voter as a male person.
Robert Baldwin
Upper Canadian and moderate reformer
With his father, William, proposed responsible government.
Elected 1830 as a member of the legislative assembly but was defeated in the general election later that year
Bond head appointed him to the executive council
Baldwins condition for joining was a verbal commitment to responsible government
Bond head ignored this so Baldwin resigned.
William Mackenzie
Moved to upper Canada from Scotland in 1820. Became a leading voice for the new reform movement. Opposed the colonial regime and advocated for responsible government.
1828 elected to legislative assembly, protesting everything.
He faced liver suits, threats and physical assaults, as well as an attack on his printing office.
In 1830 he published a series of open letters to the governor, colborne, aimed at removing the accusations of disloyalty.
1830 Tory majority in the assembly, but Mackenzie continued to push for reforms, Mackenzie was expelled for liver in 1831. Nearly 1k of his constituents petitioned in his favour when this was ignored they carried him through the streets.
2nd Jan 1832 elected back in, expelled again on 5th Jan.
April 1832 he travelled to England to present a number of petitions to the king, where he was well received, and the governor was instructed to solve the problems.
Louis-Joseph papineau
Leading voice of the reformist patriots movement. Elected speaker of the legislative assembly in 1815.
In 1820, he refused a position on the legislative council offered by Dalhousie.
February 1834, introduced the 92 resolutions.
What did Britain do to combat existing tensions
• 1828 a delegation visited Britain from LC with petitions signed by 87k
• in UC, people also signed petitions for change.
Solution: creation of the Canada committee parliamentary select comittee, investigated the concerns and reported back to Britain.
• Britain offered no solutions, no amendments suggested to 1791 constitution act
• recognised all the problems but didn’t suggest any changes.
92 resolutions
February 1834, Papineau introduced 92 resolutions which affirmed the assembly’ members’ loyalty to the crown, but listen a series of political demands, including:
• condemnation of the legislation council
• the legislative council should listen to the people. Should he elected or a more direct method for people to express their opinions
• comparison to the form of government in the US
• the inhabitants won’t renounce their French heritage
• complaints that the British got the best officers despite their minority
Submitted to the commons in London. British responded that they had tried to carry out previous suggestions and any future measures would be best in the hands of the British government.
Papineau and followers angry.
Key tensions so far (early in course)
Lack of representation
economic problems
British response
Religious and cultural difference
Lieutenant governors in upper canada
Colborne - increased population by 70% through migration. Improved infrastructure and led the British armed forces against the rebellions in 1836
Bond head - appointed Baldwin to exec council
George Arthur - moved to UC. Governed during UC rebellion and oversaw unity of 2 provinces
Lower Canada lieutenant governors
Alymer- overall governor of all Canada
Gosford- oversaw gosford commission
UC Short term tensions - radical reformers
Led by Baldwin and who’s father who came up with idea of responsible government
During revolts Baldwin was in London protesting removal from exec council by lieutenant governor.
UC Short term tensions - emigration
Irish emigration to UC meant that virtually whole of UC east of Toronto had become notably Irish in character
American aliens were treated with suspicion and in 1830’s the longer standing residents began to treat Irish the same way
Poor immigrants assisted by ops township scheme
UC Short term tensions -lieutenant governors
Colborne and bond head shared similar vies of constitutions that they were there to govern and exec council there to be consulted
Colborne more successful than bond head shared
UC Short term tensions - 1836 election
Victory for bond head as deliver pro government majority after person majority campaign
Legislative assembly to share their position and control reformers
LC Short term tensions - papineau
Decendant of old seigneurial family
Became more and more anti British after 1830 stemmed from French Canadian nationalism
Not convinced by ideas of equality or revolution
Change in heart obscure as he sued to love British constitution
LC Short term tensions - economy
LC economy did not perform well and struggled to pay salaries, economic aid did not perform well
Social in east and radical population increasing
British proposed for shared economic control with province
What was the gosford commission
1835-36
In 1835 the Whig government, under Melbourne appointed a royal commission to investigate Canadian affairs
Commission comprised of three people including the earl of gosford.
Travelled to lower canada and were informed to hear all complaints out.
Result of gosford commission
The 10 russel resolutions 1837 which rejected all the demands of the patriots in the 92 resolutions.
Results of the Russel resolutions
Unrest and agitation in LC
In may, patriots held large public meetings calling for boycott of British goods and free trade between LC and the USA
• banks closed
• August, assembly met and refused to submit to demands of British
• 26 August, patriots began to prepare for revolt
• October - declaration of the rights of man based on the declaration of congress in the US
What was the declaration of Saint-Ours may 1837
• declaration by the patriots denouncing the russel revolutions after gosford
• starting summer 1837 protests
What was the split in the movement during the revolts
Wolfred Nelson represented the radical patriots who opted for open rebellion.
Papineau represented the moderates who believed action should he constitutional
Timeline of events in the revolution
6th November 1837 - meeting announced in Montreal by the fils de la liberte, under papineau. 250 assembled. Attacked British loyalists
Battle of st Dennis, 23rd November 1837 - 300 British troops confronted 800 patriots under Nelson. British forced to withdraw as ran out of ammo
Battle of ST Charles, 25th November 1837 - rebels set houses on fire. However, rebels I’ll organised, poorly equipped and badly led and the British troops too strong for them
2nd battle of st Dennis, 30th November - papineau fled with other patriots to USA
Battle of st. Eustache, 14th December - colborne with 1.5k troops attacked patriots at st. Eustache. Conditions icy, British had difficulty crossing river. Rebellion collapsed. 70 rebels killed, 100 wounded and British took 118 prisoners. Durham sent out as new gov
Second revolution
November 1838
Rebels under nelson prepared for a second imsurgency which broke out immediately upon Durhams departure in early November 1838.
By November 10th 1838 the second outbreak had been put down.
Key events in upper Canada in term of the revolution
Following 1836 election, many reformers believed that rebellion was now necessary.
Committees of correspondence set up to prepare
November 1837, papineau appealed to Mackenzie for support from upper Canada. When Mackenzie saw all British troops in UC go to LC, he proposed a revolt for independence drafting a constitution in which he called for:
• freedom of religious beliefs and practices
• equality under the law
• right to bear arms
• right to peaceful assembly
• freedom of press
HQ established at Montgomery tavern
Montgomery tavern. (The revolt)
The revolt. Toronto. 5-8th December 1837.
Bond head doubted the rumours of rebel troops gathering. However, 1k rebels gathered.
December 5th the rebels with 800 ill equipped and untrained adherents, marched south on tongue street towards the city carrying hunting rifles and pitchforks.
Ran into loyalists who opened fire.
Long story short lots of confusion and rebels ran away
7th December - 1k British military reinforcements marched to the tavern and dispersed the rebels. £1000 reward for Mackenzie, he fled to USA.
Navy island
Mackenzie fled to USA.
Decided to set up a republic of Canada, taking possession of navy island.
Difficulty securing provisions and the steamer, Caroline, an American small boat was used.
The Caroline affair
British forces crossed Biafra river at night, entering American waters.
They boarded the Caroline, cleared the crew, set her on fire, sent adrift down the rushing river and over the Biafra falls.
Almost brought war between Britain and USA.
Overall, what haooened in UC (revolt)
• not as serious as LC
• started their revolt during the LC revolt
• troops had been taken from UC asa as to LC by bond head
• Mackenzie gathered 1.5k men
• Mackenzie issued proclamation of independence in December
Result of revolt in lower Canada
• 500 patriots jailed, 13k involved
• Act passed in 1838 suspending the 1791 constitution act
• gosford now running colony
• it was imperative that LC was reorganised so that French Canadians could no longer command a majority in the assembly
Consequences of the revolt for lower Canada
• around 1000 death, mainly among rebels
• hundreds arrested
• 99 captured militants were condemned to death, 12 carried out
• 7 exiled to Bermuda, including nelson
• 58 LC rebels sent to VDL
• an menstrual declared in 1843, some rebels returned to Canada
Results of revolution in upper Canada
• Following government victory, many fled to USA, those who stayed were arrested
• talk in upper Canada solely loyal to British and how to keep provinces British
• British thought it was down to family compact system
Consequences of the rebellion for upper Canada
• Around 325 deaths, only 27 soldiers
• 24 rebels transported to Australia
• many reformers fearing reprisals, fled and remained in the USA.
• rebels taken prisoner from the border raids were put on trial with 800 imprisoned, 10 executed and 58 taken to VDL
Was there really a threat of revolution?
• small numbers in revolts that were put down easily
• American revolution 50 years earlier
• rebellions took place in winter, could’ve been worse in other months
• HAD to be taken seriously and WAS by the British
What was the wider impact in Canada
Papineau found a place in the heart of nationalists. MacKenzie also found a place in history.
Their failure undermined the extremists which allowed more moderate reformers to come through and pave the way for new Canada
Although militarily small, held great political purpose.
Led to the Durham report.
Moderate reformers post rebellion
Robert Baldwin
Louis hippolyte la Fontaine
Info on lord durham
•Educated Eton.
•Extremely wealthy and part of liberal wing of the aristocratic whigs. • Nicknamed radical jack.
• Big part in great reform bill
• 15th Jan 1838 appointed high commissioner to Canada to report on problems and reccomend a solution
• took two advisors, Wakefield and buller
Buller info
Popular radical MP, sympathetic towards Canadians. Responsible on advising Durham on the date of the prisoners.
Wakefield info
Troubled past, excluded from school at 14.
At 20, had a 16 year old girl. She died and he had a large trust fund
To increase wealth he secured a seat in the commons
Aged 30, Abducted a 15-year-old heiress and persuaded her to marry him. Sentenced to 3 years pen.
In prison studied the colonies believing Australia could be better if they didn’t give land away for free
What did Durham do politically (institutions)
Proclaimed to show an open mind and to treat everyone fairly.
Appointed his own exec council and formed a new special council.
Met with prominent politic figures from both upper and lower including Baldwin and Fontaine.
He formed numerous committees to gather info and opinions from different segments of society including patriots in LC and various stakeholders in UC.
What did Durham do with the prisoners from the rebellion
•161 prisoners, some guilty
• 8 to Bermuda
• 16 banished
• rest amnesty
• popular in Canada but denounced in Britain as seen as illegal. Lost support of Melbourne and the whigs.
What did lord brougham say about the Durham report
“Wakefield thought it, Bullet wrote it, Durham signed it”
Responsible government (Durham report)
A system by which settler colonies select their own legislature, like Westminster.
The proposal was that elected members of the legislature should be trusted to form an administration, in which the governor would then be responsible to the legislature.
Durham believed it was necessary to give the elected assembly more power.
Flaw of responsible government
Not introduced until 1848 in Nova Scotia, and then 1855 to the whole of Canada
Racial divides (Durham report)
Having concluded that the conflict was not a class struggle, but a racial one, he was convinced he had to go beyond responsible government.
He ended up recommending removing the whole English language dominance in French areas.
Durham failed to mention Native American at all in the report.
The act of union
- • Durham report resulted in the union of the canadas.
• despite recommendations, British government refused to give more power.
• lower and upper given equal representation in the assembly.
• acts main provisions was to establish a single parliament with equal representation for Canada west and Canada east.
Response to the Durham report
Welcomed by many British Canadians who remained loyal to the British.
Montreal’s pro British population supported the union because they saw it as a way to overcome French Canadian opposition to their plans for economic development.
Family compact in UC opposed union
