Political Parties in the Union of Canada Notes

Parti Rouges

• Radical party who wanted a separate French-Canadian country
• Anti-Catholic Church, hated the Union, Church and State remain separate
• Led by Papineau

Tories (Conservatives)

• In Canada West
• Lost power due to the Corn Laws
• Led by John A. Macdonald
• Fate relied on economic development
• Formed an alliance with Parti Bleus “Liberal-Conservative” party in 1854 to gain most of the power in the Canadas
• Reforms: settled clergy reserves, seigneurial system abolished, signed the Reciprocity Treaty

Parti Bleus

• Reformers from Canada East
• Middle Class
• Maintain French-Canadian rights, separate Catholic school
• Led by George-Etienne Cartier
• Wanted bicultural party of French and English
• Formed an alliance with J.A.M. and the Tories “Liberal-Conservative” party in 1854 to gain most of the power in the Canadas

Clear Grits

• Radical republican principles
• Led by George Brown – editor of Toronto Globe
• Supported separation of Church and State
• Opposed the Tories during the 1850s
• “Rep by Pop” & westward expansion (Rupert’s Land)

1858 Alexander Galt – proposed the union of all the colonies of British North American called “Confederation” (federal gov’t and provincial gov’t with different powers)