What was the background to the Canadian revolution? Flashcards
When did Britain gain Canada?
After the Treaty of Paris
When given the option to return to France how many remained in Canada?
70,000
What happened in the 1791 constitution?
Restructuring into lower and upper Canada
What was the Quebec act?
French Canadians could practice roman catholicism
Doubled in size
French civil law was reinstated
When was the Quebec act?
22 June 1774
When was the Canada act?
1791
Who were in upper Canada?
British loyalists from America
Who were in lower Canada?
French canadians
What was the political system for both provinces?
Governors supported by an executive and legislative council
What did Britain control in Canada?
Defence, foreign affairs and external trade
Were both provinces governed by the same government?
No, they had separate governments
In Upper Canada how many people were in the legislative council?
7, for life
Who was the legislative council in Upper Canada controlled by?
Executive council
How many people were in the legislative assembly in Upper Canada?
16
What did the legislative assembly in Upper Canada have power to do?
Raise tax
Who had to approve laws in upper Canada?
The legislative council
Who were the family compact?
Held power via the executive council and were elected for life
What did the family compact believe in?
The anglican church
Did not want the system to change
What was the political system in lower Canada?
Followed the French system and french civil law
Who were the Chateau Clique?
English speaking who were dominant in the executive and legislative councils
What did the legislative assembly in lower Canada control?
Revenue, patronage and land grants
Who was land held by in Upper Canada?
By the crown to give to free settlers
How much of land in Upper Canada was designated as clergy reserves?
1/7
Where did the profits from land in Upper Canada go to?
The Anglican church
How did the British get land from the indigenous people
Treaties were signed to increase crown lands
How was land given out in Lower Canada?
Granted to a seigner who granted land to tenants in return for rent
Why were there tensions in upper Canada?
Lack of infrastructure and investment
Calls for responsible and cheap government
Removal of family compact
Small population
Who called for constitutional reforms in Upper Canada?
Robert Baldwin
Why were there tensions in lower Canada?
Threats to French identity
English speaking Chateau Clique
Rural stagnation and hardship
What were some of the economic problems in Upper Canada?
Economic depression
Crop failure
Immigration
Cholera from lower Canada
What was the population of Upper Canada in 1831?
237,000
How many people died in cholera in Upper Canada?
4000
What were some of the economic problems in lower Canada?
Economic depression
Agricultural crisis
Immigration from Britain, took jobs away as they worked for less money
Cholera from immigrants
Who was the governor in Lower Canada between 1820-1828?
Dalhouise
What were the assembly under Dalhouise refusing to do?
Vote money for the payment of officials
What did Dalhouise refused to accept?
The patriot leader
How many people signed the petition to end Dalhouise’s governorship?
87,000
Why did London remove Dalhouise as governor?
They didn’t want unrest in Canada
Why was the Canada committee set up?
In response to the petition that was signed by 87,000 people
What did the Canada committee do?
Investigate concerns and report back to London
What did the Canada committee fail to do?
No solutions were offered, they recognised the issues but didn’t do anything about them
When did the whigs come into power?
1830
What did the whigs increase the electorate to?
366,000 to 650,000
What did the whigs abolish?
Rotten boroughs
Who could vote under the Whigs?
Men who owned property worth £10
What was the Howick act?
It granted Canadian colonial assemblies greater power over funds raised through local taxation, rather than having Britain control these revenues
When was the Howick act?
1831
What was the civil list?
Expected the legislative assembly to agree to payment of officials from Canadan money
How much would the Canadians have to pay in regards to the civil list?
£19,500 a year
Who refused to pay for the civil list?
French Canadians
What was the Threat from the USA?
Influence of war of independence
The Canadians couldn’t turn to them in fear of US expansion into Canada
Who emigrated into Canada?
Irish, who were seen as freckless, criminals and diseased
What was the ops Township scheme?
Brought Irish people over, gave them temporary shelters and cheap supplies
What did the Irish bring to Canada?
Cholera
What did Robert Baldwin call for?
Responsible government
When did Robert Baldwin become a member of the legislative assembly?
1830
When did Baldwin become a member of the executive council and who was he appointed by?
Bond appointed him in 1833
What did Robert Baldwin do in 1836?
He wrote to the colonial secretary calling for responsible government and was rejected
What was Papineau leader of?
PatriCanadien (reformis patriote movement)
What did Papineau oppose?
The abused of the appointed legislative council
What happened in 1830 in regards to Papineau?
He refused a position on the legislative council
What did William Mackenzie call for?
Responsible government based on the American system
When was William Mackenzie elected into the legislative Assembly?
1828
What did William Mackenzie say about Canada?
Postage too high
Lack of local government
Lack of independent judges
Lack of power of governors
What did Mackenzie support?
The reform movement
When was John Colborne governor?
1828-1835
What did John Colborne do in terms of payment of officials?
Bypassed the legislative assembly by using tax revenues to pay officials
When was Sir Francis Bond Head governor?
1835-1838
What did Bond do in terms of the executive council?
Invited moderates onto the executive council and forced them out when they complained
What happened in the 1836 election?
Victory for head after personal intervention in the campaign
What laws were passed after the 1836 election?
Law extending legislative session
Law preventing members of legislative from serving as executive council
What was the Gosford mission?
An inquiry led by Lord Gosford
When was the Gosford mission?
1835
Why did Gosford make little progress?
Head disclosed the full terms of the inquiry to the assembly in upper Canada
When were the Russel revolutions?
6 march 1837
What were the Russel revolutions in response to?
92 resolutions
What did the Russel revolutions allow?
Allowed governor use of public funds to pay for officials
How did the Canadians react to the Russel revolutions?
Boycotts of British goods and free trade was opened up between USA and Canada
How did the British respond to the Canadians in terms of the Russel revolutions?
Military increased
When did banks close?
18 May 1837
When did the assembly adjorne?
26 August 1837, Patriots prepared to revolt
