Learning from Past Mistakes; Canada and the Durham report Flashcards
What was the Family Compact (UC)
A small group fo men who controlled the executive council of Upper Canada from the 1810s - 1840s
How many members were on the legislative assembly in UC?
and what power did they have?
16
- power to propose laws
what fraction of land did the Anglican church profit off of in UC?
1/7th
What land-ownership system was used in UC?
English Free-hold system
- more incentive to work hard
How was revenue raised which frsutrated refrormers?
By seeling land to Canada Company, reformers uable to have any influrence
Who were the reformers?
memebers of the legislative assemly who wished for greater economic + political control
What did reformers call for?
Responsible Self government, which meant the removal of the Family CCompact
What were the family compct boud by loyalty to ?
The Anglican Church
What was the contrasting land=ownership system in LC?
‘Feudal’ or ‘Seigneurial’ system;
Land owned by a landlord (seigneur)of a large estate and rented out
What % of the rural population in lc lived in Seigneurial land?
What were they known as?
75-80%
‘Habitants’
Who were the ‘Chateau Clique’ ?
Exclusively english-speaking members of the executive council
How many people petition to lobby for a French speaker in the house?
87,000
- it is rejected by Lord Dalhousie
What was the main tension caused in LC
Fiercly French-Speaking + loyal therefoe the large influence of British nationalists create racial tensiosn
Why do the patriots still want to uphold the seigneurial system
Primarily because it is NOT british
- shows anger of the british
What is the result of the Canada Committe in 1829 which frustrates those living in U+L canada?
Its report sugessting sticking to the exisitng goverment arragements
and “proper management” would solve the problems
What were the Long-term reasons for revolt in UC?
Political system, inc tight control of Family Compact
frustration of the control by the Anglican Church
What were the short-term reasons for revolt in LC?
- Emergence of Radical in the refom party
- Actions of LT Govs
- 1836 elections
Who did William Mckenzie take over the radical party for while they were away?
Robert Baldwin + his father
Why was Mackenzie far less moderate than Baldwin?
Had expeirienced perosnal attacks by the sons of the Family Compact on his newspapers in 1826
What did the ‘ops Township scheme’ do and why did it cause frustration
The Scheme supported immigrants with supplies (many Irish, viewed as criminally inclnied and thought to carry disease)
Frustration arose from cost and lack of consulttion with ELECTED legislative assembly
What events increased cause of concern over immigration?
Cholera epidemics (1832, 1834)
Financil Crisis in America (1837)
Who was Sir John Colborne (1828-35) and what the pros and cons of his acitions ?
one of the LT governors;
- genuinly improved infratrsucture
- Attempts to greater establish the Anlgican Church by allocating income from clergy reserves to support the 44 ongoing Anglican parishes - Highly Provocative Action
- Also bypasses legisltive assmebly to use public funds
Who was Sir France Bone Head (1835- 1838) and what were the pros and cons of his actions ?
- Sparks election where BH campaigns vigorously, against tradition of LGs not taking part
- Removes Refromers successfully but gives reformers no legal means to influence so they feel they must rebel
What was the reslt of the 1836 election?
win for Bone Head
What were tow laws passed after the 1836 election and what did they prevent?
Intended to prevent reformers getting positions in govt
‘Law to extend session of the legislative’ - no election in within 6 months of Monarch’s death - King William IV was v ill
‘Law to prevent members of legislature from serving as executive councillors’ - future govs could not appoint reforms from legislative assembly to more powerful executive body
What happens in december 1837 in UC?
5th Dec:
Several hundred poorly armed and organised rebels march - face smaller group of loyalists - flee from gunfire
8th Dec:
Rest of Rebels dispersed by Loyalist reinforcements in Toronto - small conforntation
Revolt effectively over - Mackenzie takes rebels and fless to ‘Navy Island’ in the ‘Niagara River’
Declares a provisional state - around 600 join him
Their supply ship gets burned however
Why was the revolt ineffective in UC?
Mackenie had poor leadership and uncertain aims
- British highly effective
Long term causes of Revolt in LC
Exclusion of French-Speaking ppl from government
Short term cause of Revolt in LC?
Leadership of the patriots by Papineau
Economic and social issues in the province
The Gosford Commission of Inquiry + British decision about the colony from its findings
What was Papineau’s main opposition to the British?
His French-Canadian heritage and his favorutism of the Seignurial system
When were the 92 resolutions written up and what did they contain?
Feb 1834
92 resolutions published by Patiotes demanding constitutional change, highlighting elective councils and protection of French-Canadian identity
In what year did the more radical wing of the refrom party gain a stronger voice in LC?
And what event fueled this?
1834
In 1832, two unarmed men were shot by military during protests
What were the Russell Resolutions in response to?
The call for constitutional change in LC via the 92 resolutions
What was the reaction to the Russell Revolutions?
outrage and frustration
- patriots call for meetings to boycott British goods
What does wolfred nelson declare on the 26th October 1837?
“time has come to melt our spoons into bullets”
When were the Russell Resoltions passed and what did they delcare
6th March 1837
The RRs essentially rejected the 92 resolutions and allowed governor to use funds without consulting any of the assemblies
When does street fighting break out in LC?
6th November
When does Nelson gain a surprise victory for the Patriots?
23rd November
When is Martial Law declared ? and when is it revoked?
5th December 1837
17th April 1838
When do Britian step up their actions and shoot 100 fleeing patriots and brun houses of those thought to be hiding them ?
14th december
How many rebels were potnetially invovled in the LC revolt?
around 13,000
What Act does Lord Durham help over the line?
The 1832 great reform act which gives growing middle class a voice through voting
What were the three main ideas propsed in the Durham report?
Unification of Upper and Lower Canada
The end of French-Canadians “freedoms” which included system of land ownership
Responsible Self-Government
Where and when was the first colony in Canada gived responsible self government
Wasn’t until 1848 - 10 years later- that Novia Scotia (a smaller Canadian colony) to be granted self-gov
What were the negatvies about the Durham report?
It doens’t consider Native Americans in Canada
Responsible Self Government only proposed to White colonies - not India or Jamaica
What was Durham’s reaction to the executive councils in LC?
he “wouldnt listen to them”
- First act was to remove them and replace with his own staff in both U+L canada
What are two other things Durha does?
Set up police force
Put relationship with US on stronger feet
Two main adivsors to Lord Durham?
Edward Wakefield
Charles Buller
