Learning from past mistakes: Canada and the Durham Report 1837-40 Flashcards

1
Q

When was Upper and Lower Canada created?

A

1791 Constitution

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2
Q

What was Canada pre-1763?

A

New France

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3
Q

What change occurred in Upper Canada in 1825?

A

Free land grants were axed (due to high USA immigration) and sale-by-auction was introduced

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4
Q

What did the Canada Company receive in 1825?

A

A Royal Charter to aid colonisation and development of the province

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5
Q

What occurred in the executive council in Upper Canada between 1810-1840 and why?

A

The Family Compact grew in power as the lieutenant governor could not remove them constitutionally

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6
Q

How many members were there in the legislative assembly and council?

A

No fewer than 16 in the assembly and 7 in the council

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7
Q

What did the Family Compact support?

A

Anglican Church, allegiance to the crown

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8
Q

Why was the legislature in Canada so broken?

A

The council could block the bills of the assembly

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9
Q

What was the main religion in Upper Canada?

A

Non-Anglican ie Baptist, Methodist and Congressionalist

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10
Q

What was a seventh of land used for in UC?

A

Clergy reserves, with all profits going to the Anglican Church

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11
Q

Why were clergy reserves an issue in UC?

A

They were not supported by the majority of Christians in UC but the Family Compact made sure they would never be banned

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12
Q

What was the population in Upper Canada in 1835 and why was this a problem?

A

350,000, so small that the government struggled to pay for the large infrastructure projects of the time

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13
Q

How was the UC legislative assembly side-stepped?

A

In paying for infrastructure, instead of raising taxes through the assembly (where they might be able to direct funds more) the councils sold land to the Canada Company

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14
Q

Who was the father of responsible government?

A

Robert Baldwin

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15
Q

What was the land tenure system in Lower Canada?

A

Basically feudal, with seigneurs handing out land to habitants

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16
Q

What percentage of LC lived by the seigneurial system and why?

A

75-80% since the government protected the habitants with their contracts

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17
Q

What did the 1774 Quebec Act allow?

A

French land tenure, civil law, and also free practise of Catholicism

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18
Q

What was the main issue in the rules of the assemblies in LC?

A

The language was English, yet the French were fiercely protective of their culture

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19
Q

How did the Chateau Clique grow?

A

Governors usually appointed those loyal to the crown to the councils

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20
Q

What occurred in LC during 1820s?

A

Rural stagnation blamed on seigneurial system, calls for united (British majority therefore) Canada which were rejected harshly by French, so dropped, leaving a foul taste in the French populations mouths

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21
Q

Who were the patriotes?

A

Pro-seigneurial/French law educated professionals of LC, who wish to protect French culture with some revolutionary undertones

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22
Q

What occurred in LC between 1820-28?

A

Lord Dalhousie was Governor, who stopped a patriote leader of the legislative assembly coming into power as speaking, causing the civil list problems, before being booted by London for unpopularity (87,000 signed a petition for his removal)

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23
Q

What occurred in the UK in 1828?

A

A Lower Canadian delegation arrived with complaints, and as a result the Canada Committee was set up

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24
Q

What did the Canada Committee offer as a solution in 1829?

A

Amendments to 1791 Constitution, and that the governor manages it well - no mechanism for change

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25
Q

What occurred in the UK in 1830?

A

Whig government came to power with aim to reform Canada, but became bogged down in Great Reform Act before reaching it

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26
Q

What was passed in 1831?

A

Howick Act which gave the assemblies the revenues from duties, but still the civil list did not pass

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27
Q

What were the 4 reasons for revolt in Upper Canada?

A

Radicalism within Reform Party, Emigration from Britain, Governing of province and 1836 election

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28
Q

Who was the main radical voice of the Reform Party and why was he effective?

A

William Lyon Mackenzie, who’s newspaper had been attacked by sons of the Family Compact in 1826 aiding his cause as a persecuted man

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29
Q

Where was emigration from in the 1830s and why did it irritate Upper Canada?

A

The impoverished, disease ridden Irish, aided by the tax swallowing Ops Township Scheme were blamed for cholera epidemics in 1832 and 1834

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30
Q

Who was Governor of Upper Canada 1828-35?

A

Sir John Colbourne

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31
Q

What 3 things did Colbourne get wrong?

A

Bypassed legislative assembly using tax revenues for Civil List, built Prep Schools not a university, and used clergy reserve money to fund Anglican churches

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32
Q

Who was Governor of Upper Canada 1835-38?

A

Sir Francis Bond Head

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33
Q

What did Francis Head do wrong?

A

Sacked moderates in executive council when they disagreed with him, and campaigned against Reformers in 1836, a break from tradition

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34
Q

What did Head do post-1836 election?

A

Extended the life of the current legislature and prevented those in the assembly to be executive councillors as well, aiding the Family Compact

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35
Q

What occurred after the 1838 election in UC?

A

Mackenzie set up the Committee of Correspondence and began drilling men

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36
Q

What sparked rebellion in UC?

A

Patriote imprisonment and LC rebellion

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37
Q

How many men were in the rebellion of UC and where were they?

A

1,000 men in Toronto (Montgomery’s Tavern)

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38
Q

What were the general events of rebellion in UC?

A

With the intent on damaging Family Compact houses, the 1000 men marched, met gunfire on the same street they started on, most fled, 3 days later reinforcements from up the river by steamboat scattered them, ended up fighting in Brantford then escape to Niagara island

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39
Q

What was the result of rebellion in UC?

A

Only pro-British voices were heard, the rest went to America, were hanged or kept quiet - some understanding of failure of Family Compact

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40
Q

Who led to patriotes?

A

Louis-Joseph Papineau, from a seigneurial family, who led the legislative assembly though the 1830s, led the Patriot Party

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41
Q

What was Papineau’s motivation/desires?

A

French nationalism, retention of seigneurial system, desire for true democracy ie British system - 92 resolutions

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42
Q

What occurred in 1832 in LC?

A

General election led to shots being fired into crowd - two men shot - by military due to tensions

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43
Q

What occurred in the LC legislative assembly from 1830-36?

A

Radical wing of Patriot Party became a strong voice for LC hardships, and blocked civil list a lot

44
Q

How was the Gosford mission a failure from the start?

A

Francis Head told the UC legislation it’s full brief, which was not much at all - they arrived in 1835

45
Q

What did the Gosford mission do (or not do)?

A

Didn’t tackle the main issues facing Canada in constitutional areas, and ended up with 10 Russell Resolutions passing rejecting 92 Resolutions

46
Q

What occurred in the run up to the rebellion in LC?

A

Unrest and agitation following 10RR, public patriote meetings, calls for British goods boycott, increasing military presence, banks close in May, post-August there is preparations for revolt

47
Q

What was the name of the paramilitary arm of the patriotes?

A

Société des Fils de la Liberté

48
Q

Main battle of LC revolt

A

St Denis patriote victory, St Charles patriote loss, 100 patriotes shot in St Eustache

49
Q

What occurs on the 5th of December 1837?

A

Martial Law is declared in LC by Lord Gosford

50
Q

How many patriotes were put in gaol?

A

500

51
Q

How many rebels were involved in LC revolt?

A

Maybe up to 13,000

52
Q

What occurred on the 10th of February 1838?

A

1791 Constitution was revoked, Gosford fully in charge of LC

53
Q

What was seen as necessary post-revolt in LC?

A

Rein in power of both French-Canadians and Chateau Clique, as well as change land tenure system

54
Q

2 reasons why there was a fear of revolt in the Canadas after the events had taken place

A

If the events occurred in summer of 1838 there could have been a greater fight, and also the threat of American involvement, particularly with many rebels fleeing to the states after the skirmishes

55
Q

Why was history perhaps too fond of Durham?

A

He was removed by London before he had time to disappoint his followers with carrying out reforms

56
Q

Who did Lord Durham not listen to?

A

Those who had held power tightly previously - ie Chateau Clique and Family Compact

57
Q

Lord Durham’s character

A

Intelligent, wealthy, though often high-handed and touchy

58
Q

How was Durham persuaded to lead the Canada Committee?

A

After the revolts he was more sure the events were important, and the queen sent a letter asking for his assistance

59
Q

Who were the 2 trouble-makers in Durham’s group of 8?

A

Gibbon Wakefield and Thomas Turton

60
Q

How long was Durham in Canada?

A

4.5 months

61
Q

What was Durham’s first action on arrival?

A

Removing executive council with his advisors, and having all French depositions be sent to him for review

62
Q

3 Changes Durham made to Canada while he was there

A

Creation of police force, good relations with USA, committee to look into land tenure reform in LC

63
Q

How did Durham treat the rebels?

A

Freed most of them, but banished most guilty to Bermuda (London had only asked they beg guilty and become exiled)

64
Q

Why did Durham resign?

A

The whig government did not defend him from a Bill of Indemnity from Lord Brougham, seen as censorship

65
Q

Who was the most important interviewee for responsible self-government?

A

Robert Baldwin

66
Q

What was Wakefield’s effect on the report?

A

Desire for systematic colonisation (not acted upon immediately) and also for reunification of Canadas, also worked a lot on Crown Lands section

67
Q

What was Buller’s influence on the report?

A

Sympathetic to French, desired responsible self-government, had the worst sent to Bermuda (actually very popular in Canada), also finished off drafting the report

68
Q

3 changes Durham made with the report

A

Unification of Canadas, rescindment of Quebec Act, responsible self-government under Westminster Model

69
Q

Why was the Quebec Act removed?

A

To improve the economic situation of the habitants and promote growth in the economy ie remove old system of land tenure

70
Q

What are 2 criticisms of Durham’s report?

A

It swept away previous rights of French-Canadians, and did not mention indigenous peoples

71
Q

Why did LC support unification?

A

Most French rebels were in the USA, a special council ran the province

72
Q

Why did UC support unification?

A

To rid itself of debt via tax collection of LC peoples

73
Q

When did unification occur?

A

10th February 1841 in Montreal

74
Q

What did the UC LA do in 1836 showing business interests in government?

A

Newly elected legislature passed law protecting Bank of UC from bankruptcy and all of Legislative Council attempted to get charters for their own banks

75
Q

What did Mackenzie do in 1836 to increase interest in his Reformist ideas?

A

4th of July set up paper Constitution, including satires of Locke and Franklin planning a new Canadian Constitution

76
Q

What shows the issue of the UC judiciary for Reformers?

A

Jury Law Amendment Bill was passed 4 times in 8 years

77
Q

What were the casualties of the revolt in LC?

A

325 dead including 27 British soldiers, 100 rebel captured

78
Q

What happened to Papineau after the revolt?

A

He lived in exile in Paris

79
Q

When did Mackenzie return home?

A

1849

80
Q

Why were English-speakers becoming more important in LC?

A

Merchant class due to timber trade grew, mainly Anglophone

81
Q

How did the French population change from 1812 in terms of identity?

A

A professional elite in the LA created a national identity of French-Canadians, separate from the Catholic Church and clerical respect (in terms of education policy) as well as British-Canadians

82
Q

What were the parties of Papineau and when did he start?

A

Parti Canadien to Patriote Party in 1826, though he was Speaker of LC LA in 1815

83
Q

Example of violence in LC pre-revolt

A

1832 3 French Canadians shot dead by British troops in electoral riots

84
Q

Durham quote on LC

A

Two nations warring in the bosom of a single state

85
Q

What are the two general arguments that the revolt was the fault of the British?

A

Poor constitutional set-up with few true democratic controls, and that the British didn’t listen to the complaints of the Canadians

86
Q

How much land did the Clergy Corporation and Canada Company own?

A

2/7ths

87
Q

Who set up the Bank of Upper Canada?

A

William Allan and Rev. John Strachan, both members of legislative and executive council who used position to get government to subscribe for a quarter of shares, in 30s 1/3rd of the board were councillors

88
Q

Who were used by the Mayor of Toronto to put down the revolt in UC?

A

317 Orangemen sworn into the local militia

89
Q

What caused hard economic times in UC before the revolt?

A

1832 President Jackson not rechartering Second Bank of USA leading to depression in 1836-38 in Anglo-American world, as well as poor 1836 harvest

90
Q

Why was the legal system in UC seen as unfair for the poorest?

A

There was a system of indefinite jailing for those who could not pay off debts, and in 1837 the new LA passed a law increasing punishment for farmers in the same predicament

91
Q

How much debt did the colony have in 1836 for how many individuals in UC?

A

£1m across 400,000

92
Q

How did the Durham Report change the judiciary?

A

Supreme Court created

93
Q

Why was British North American not fully united after the Durham Report recommendation?

A

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia rejected the idea

94
Q

How did Durham plan on recreating the LAs of the past?

A

Municipal government

95
Q

What was Durham’s description of the French?

A

A people with no literature and no history

96
Q

What was Durham’s description of the Chateau Clique?

A

A petty, corrupt, insolent Tory clique

97
Q

When was self-government brought to Canada after the Durham Report?

A

1847 with first government created in 1848 in order to alleviate British financial issues

98
Q

What was set up by who protesting Mackenzie’s removal from the UC LA in 1832?

A

Dr Thomas Morrison in the UC Central Political Union which received 20,000 signatures

99
Q

What was the LA like in 1834?

A

A Reformer majority

100
Q

What were the 3 names Mackenzie’s groups took?

A

Canadian Alliance Society, Constitutional Reform Society in 1836 and Toronto Political Union in 1837

101
Q

What were set up in 1837 by Mackenzie and what did they do?

A

Vigilance Committees which sent delegates to a July Constitution Convention (these delegates would go onto run the rebellion) and by October the meetings turned to drilling men

102
Q

How many loyalists fled the border after the war, and what percentage of the American-Canadian population were they in 1812?

A

7,000, soon to become 1 in 10 with the rest often being of a more reformist variety

103
Q

Why did so many American come to Canada between the wars?

A

Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe offered free land grants, but by 1812 the government began to try to exclude Americans, leading to a dispute with the LA

104
Q

Who went to support Mackenzie in the rebellion?

A

From London in west-UC, Charles Puncombe marched down to Toronto, only to be stooped in Hamilton on the 13th of December

105
Q

What happened to reformers after the war?

A

Tories burnt their houses down

106
Q

How many Americans and Canadians were sent to Van Diemen’s Land for taking part in the rebellion?

A

93 Americans and 58 Canadians

107
Q

Why was the Canadian attitude always an issue for Reformers?

A

They did not dislike the British as much as the American had before their revolt