the act of union Flashcards
lord Durham wrote a report and recommended what?
the union of the 2 Canadas
why did he think a union would solve the conflict between the French and English?
the English would be the majority in the legislative assembly and the French would assimilate
what were the economic reasons as to why he recommended the union?
upper canada was in enormous debt because of road and canal construction
who was only able to benefit from custom duties?
lower canada
people felt that a union would promote the growth of which type of trade?
domestic (internal) trade
when were the Canadas united and what were they called?
united canada and in 1840
what was the political structure like after the act of union?
there was now a single legislative assembly that had representatives from both upper and lower Canada. it was made up of an equal amount from both regions (42 each)
what did lord durham recommend?
responsible government
what is responsible government?
a government in which members of the executive council are chosen by the members of the majority party in the legislative assembly
did London accept responsible government?
no. the governor and councils continue to hold the same roles and powers as before (constitutional act)
who could block bills made by who?
the governor and legislative council could block bills made by the legislative assembly
how did England still have control over the colony?
the governor and legislative council were elected by British people
how come the French canadiens were the minority in the legislative assembly?
some of the representatives in the legislative assembly from old lower canada were English
what was the official language of canada?
english
after the act of union, the politicians were divided into what two groups?
the conservatives (tories) and the reformers
who were the reformers?
they wanted change. Canada east: mostly French and some English. Canada West: English
what were the reformers demands and positions?
they were supported by the professional bourgeoisie. they demanded responsible gvt and wanted to protect the rights of French canadiens.
who were the conservatives?
English Canadian members and 2 French Canadian members
what were the conservatives demands and positions?
were supported by British business class. didn’t want political change because they had influence over institutions with appointed members (governor and council).
when was the alliance of reformers?
1841
who was Robert Baldwin?
leader of the reform party in canada west (upper canada, English)
who was Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine?
leader of reform party in Canada east (lower canada, English)
why did Louis and Robert form an alliance?
give greater weight to their political demands
when did the reformers get a majority in the legislative assembLY?
1842
why did the French reformers offer to help the English reformers?
because then the English would protect the French language and culture
what is protectionism?
an economic policy instituted by the government in order to protect the economy of a country or empire from foreign competition
why was protectionism bad for merchants?
British merchants would pay too much for their resources that they could get somewhere else
when did Britain end the protectionist policy and what was abolished?
in 1846 and the corn laws were abolished
because protectionism was abolished, what was the disadvantage of the colonies?
they had to compete with foreign markets to sell their resources to Britain
by ending the protectionist policy, the colony became more what?
autonomous economically and politically
what happened in 1848?
the Baldwin Lafontaine alliance won the majority of the seats in the legislative assembly
if a member of the executive council lost support from the legislative assembly, what did they member have to do?
they had to resign
members of the legislative council were appointed by who?
by the governor on recommandation of the executive council
how come the parliamentary system was still not democratic?
because the governor still had the power to veto
what were the 2 laws that the reform alliance that were to the advantage of the French canadiens?
amnesty: grants a pardon
a law compensating the victims of the rebellions. you received a sum of money if somebody died
what were the First Nations like in the province of canada?
they had lost their status as a military ally. many of their lands were taken to develop the colony
what did governor Charles bagot do to the First Nations?
he organized a commission to look into native affairs
what were the First Nations affected by?
the timber industry and colonization of several regions in Canada West
what were created for the First Nations?
reserves: territory for the natives that is administered by the Canadian gvt
1850-1867 was a period of what?
political instability
what was the British American territory like before 1867?
north western territory and rupperts belonged to the Hudson Bay company.
what were the British colonies before 1867?
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, pei, and the province of canada
each British had its own what?
had its own government to manage domestic affairs
what happened to the reform alliance?
they felt apart and split into two groups
what were the two groups that the reform alliance split into?
radicals (who wanted change) and moderates (satisfied with the gains)
who did the moderates join?
conservatives
who did the radicals join?
the liberals
what was the conservatives in Canada east like?
they were the parti bleu. leader was George Etienne Cartier and they were business men
what was the conservatives like in canada west?
they were former tories and moderate reformers. most were English and loyal to the British crown. the leader was John A macodnald
what were the liberals like in canada east?
they were the parti rouge. were former radicals, wanted independence from Britain, and against the church having a say in gvt.
what were the liberals like in Canada west?
clear grit party. were formal radical reformers. their leader was George brown
what is free trade?
Free trade is an economic concept referring to selling of products between countries without tariffs or other trade barriers.
what were the conservative objectives?
wanted to develop the colony and form political and commercial ties with canada
what were the liberal objectives?
the state and church should be separate
