Unit 3 Review Flashcards
The Great Migration: Why did people from Ireland leave the British Isles
the potato famine caused starvation and deaths. As a result, many Irish immigrants came to Canada looking for farm land and an end to starvation.
The Great Migration: Why did people from Scotland leave the British Isles
The country was full of tenant farmers who farmed the noble’s land. Then sheep farming became more profitable and the tenant farmers were kicked off their leased land.
The Scottish immigrants were looking for new farmland, and Canada was crying out for settlers
The Great Migration: Why did people from England leave the British Isles
Due to the Industrial Revolution and the rise of factories and machines, the individual craftsman and laborers lost their jobs Canada seemed like the land of opportunity
Rebellion in Upper Canada: Leader
William Lyon Mackenzie
Rebellion in Lower Canada: Leader
Louis Joseph Papineau
Main reasons for the rebellion in Upper Canada (3)
Church Reserves - 3 million acres of land in upper canada given to the Anglican Church. Most of the land was left in its natural state while immigrant farmers were left with poor quality land
Demanded responsible government
Campaigned against the ruling elites
and their unfair control of upper canada
Main reasons for the rebellion in Lower Canada
Produced a document called “the 92 Resolutions”
- an elected assembly
- wanted the Governor to choose his cabinet from the elected Assembly.
The situation in lower canada was poor: crops had failed, immigrants were flooding into the colony, a cholera epidemic
Finally after 3 years Britain responded to the 92 Resolutions-rejecting every major proposal.
The result was war
Events of the rebellion in upper canada
Mackenzie along with 600 armed (pitchforks, rifles, cubs) supporters marched on Yonge street in Toronto demanding a responsible government.
The Standing amy had been dispatched to Montreal to deal with the Lower Canada rebellion
The local sheriff, along with a group of volunteers fired one volley upon the demonstrators. Mackenzies men as well as the sheriff’s men all fled in confusion.
2 days later, Bond Head (Lieutenant -Governor) led an army (1000 men) to Montgomery’s Tavern - Mackenzies Headquarters
In 30 minutes the rebels were beaten and the tavern burnt
Mackenzie fled to the Us.
events of the rebellion in lower canada
Battle of St. Denis - The British troops came to arrest Papineau, but he had escaped to the USA. Later the patriotes killed 6 soldiers in an ambush. Two days later the British attacked and killed 60 patriotes.
Battle of Eustache- near Montreal 1400 British Redcoats and volunteers fought the patriotes back into the village church
As the men tried to escape the flames they were shot.
Papineau stayed in the USA and refused to return and continued to fight
In six battles over two years 27 soldiers died and nearly 300 French Canadian Patriotes had died before the rebellion was over.
results of the rebellions
they both failed
Durham report: How did he attempt to assimilate the French?
Durham planned to assimilate the French, not by force, but by rigging the system so over time they would just become English.
Effects of Lord Durhams recommendations
Durham said the French Canadians were a people with no history or literature. Many in lower Canada were insulted and there was an explosion of French Canadian novelists, poets, artists and historians to prove him wrong
Act of Union
Upper and Lower canada would be united under a single government
The assembly would have an equal number of seats. This was unfair to
Lower Canada whose population was vastly higher than upper canada.
They were named canada East and Canada west
English was the only official language
The Act of Union backfired - because it drew together the like minded reformers (protesters or rebels) in English and French Canada.
What is a double majority? Why is it a problem for Canada?
In order to pass any major issues, Canada East and Canada West had to agree. This was called Double Majority
The French and English were on opposite sides en virtually even issue, When a legislative vote tied, political deadlock occurred. The current govt had to be dissolved and a new govt had to be elected. Political deadlock happened 15 times in 15 years - essentially no decisions were made and the colony was unable to make any advancement.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country:
American Civil War
THE SLAVE OWNING SOUTHERN STATES WANTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE FREE NORTHERN STATES.
A Neutral Britain appeared to support the South because the South purchased several naval cruisers from the British.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country: Manifest Destiny
American Politicians talked of Manifest Destiny - that is one day the United States would one day expand to control all of North America.
1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia leaving the open plains of north west Canada at risk
The discovery of gold in British Columbia brought thousands of Americans into the colony and it was already caught between Alaska and the United States.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country: St. Alban’s Raid
Southern troops decided to attack deep behind the battle lines.
THEY ATTACKED ST. ALBAN VERMONT, ROBBED THREE BANKS AND THEN FLED TO CANADA
They were captured but a Montreal Judge released them and returned the stolen money to them too.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country: The Alabama Affair
BRITISH NORTH AMERICA WAS WORRIED THE NORTH WOULD TURN ITS VAST, BATTLE HARDENED ARMIES AND ATTACK TO GET REVENGE AGAINST BRITAIN
The “Alabama” captured and destroyed 65 Northern Ships. After the war the North demanded Britain pay damages because it had built the “Alabama” Britain did pay over $15 million to settle the claims.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country: Fenian Raids
THE FENIANS WERE IRISH WHO SETTLED IN THE USA TO ESCAPE BRITISH RULE
THEY BELIEVED IF THEY WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES THEY MIGHT FORCE BRITAIN TO FREE IRELAND (HOLD CANADA HOSTAGE)
1500 Fenians invaded and captured Fort Erie, but due to a lack of reinforcements they returned to the USA.
A British warship prevented a Fenian attack on New Brunswick.
For years after, people along the border were always on the lookout for the Fenians.
The Fenian raids showed the need for a united country, better to resist invaders.
Many felt resentment against the USA because they did not stop the Fenians; some say they even encouraged the Fenian attacks.
Forces which led to Canada becoming a country: The Trent Crisis
A NORTHERN WARSHIP STOPPED THE “TRENT,” A BRITISH SHIP IN NEUTRAL WATERS. (AN ACT OF WAR)
It was boarded and two Southern soldiers were arrested. Britain was outraged and promised retaliation
Trade Issues: What changed the British trade policy?
to expensive so they said free trade
Trade Issues: Why was trade between the existing colonies difficult?
they put high teriffs on trading with each other
Trade with the USA: Name of the agreement & Why didn’t it last
The BNA colonies signed the Treaty of Reciprocity (10 year deal with the USA, which provided open trade to the USA.
Due to the tension between the USA and the BNA colonies the US did not renew the deal. The US wanted to force the colonies to join the US in order to continue trade with the USA.
Railway: What was the existing Railway like at this time?
Before 1850 there was only 106 km of Railroad track in the colonies and most of it went to the USA.
Railway: How would an expanded Railway help?
The Grand Trunk Railroad (Canada’s first Railway) was to link all of the colonies together
Benefits
Trade - Increased trade among the colonies
Defense - Incase of attack from the USA, troops could be transported faster
Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE UNION OF ALL THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES. Ontario and Quebec wanted confederation to happen, but the maritime colonies were not convinced joining together would benefit them
The maritime delegates were convinced and they AGREED TO MEET AGAIN in Quebec City to finalize the details of the new union of British North American Colonies
Quebec Conference
FEDERAL SYSTEM (the distribution of power for the new govt)
A national government would govern the national matters and the Provincial govts would handle local issues
THE SENATE
Created to give voice to the regions of Canada that had a small population ex-martimes
London Conference
Representatives from Canada ASK FOR PERMISSION TO BECOME INDEPENDENT. Britain is in favor of confederation, they hoped the colonies could look after themselves, it was becoming costly to rule over colonies
THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN ACT (BNA) IS PASSED which created the Dominion of Canada - 1867
Who were the first four provinces in Canada?
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Why did Prince Edward Island not join Canada?
the huge size of the proposed nation scared PEl
PEl and their small population worried they would not have a voice in the govt (only 5 seat out of 194)
PEl wanted Charlottetown to be the capital of the new Canada, but that idea was rejected
The proposed Railway that would unite Canada would not run through PEl
The conference didn’t address buying out the absentee landlords (a major problem in PEl)
Why did Newfoundland not join Canada?
fears taxes on their boats and fish
feared the Newfoundland economy would suffer due to cheaper canadian goods
feared young Newfoundlanders would be forced to serve in the canadian military
Who was Radical Jack
John George Lambton was the Earl of Durham and an influential member of British Parliament
But he was also a troublemaker, always challenging the British house and pushing for more Parliamentary reforms. The solution, send him to canada.
• Durham was named “High commissioner and Governor-general” of all her majesty’s provinces in North America
• Durham pardoned the members of the patriotes and rebels. He exiled their readers to Bermuda rather than the harsh, penal colony of Australia.
• Five months later he returned to Britain, and while there another uprising occurred in lower Canada and he resigned his commision
Population - 1861
Canada East (Quebec) 1.1 million people
Canada West (Ontario) 1.6 million people
