Feb 16 - Upper Canada & Lord Durham

•         December 1837, a rebellion broke out

•         Radical leaders planned attacks  in both colonies, since Britain did not have enough troops to fight back everywhere

•         Wanted an American style democracy – distanced themselves from many English immigrants who saw the U.S. as an enemy

Family Compact

•         Small group of wealthy, powerful men who dominated Upper Canada from the late 18th to mid-19th century

•         Controlled the government (oligarchy) and monopolized political offices

•         Influenced banking, land contracts, education, court and church affairs

•         Opposed American Revolution against Britain

Land Issues

•         Settlers forced  Aboriginals to move off their reserves further inland

•         Best land granted to members of the Family Compact

•         Best farmland in the hands of non-farmers

•         Crown and clergy reserves:

•         Blocks of land set aside to provide income (through sale or rent) for the government and for the Anglican Church

•         2/7 of all land in Upper Canada

•         Scattered and un-cleared throughout the townships

•         Blocked road development

•         Tied up prime, arable land

•         Caused value of land to rise higher

Transportation Issues

•         Road conditions poor and impassable – could not move farmers’ goods and markets

•         Government spent money on canal building instead

•         Benefitted the Family Compact and business friends

Tories

•         Friends and supporters of the Family Compact

•         Known as Conservatives or Tories

•         Wanted to “conserve” existing form of government

•         Opposed change

•         Supported Britain’s point of view and system of government

•         Members of the Executive and Legislative Council

Moderate Reformers

•         Wanted to change system of government through legal means

•         Often influential, well-educated, and Anglican

•         Never wanted to break away from Britain

•         Supported responsible government

•         Hopes squashed by John Russell’s Ten Resolutions and appointment of Sir Francis Bond Head governor 1836

William Lyon Mackenzie

•         Most blunt reformer was William Lyon Mackenzie

•         His newspaper the Colonial Advocate attacked the Family Compact and governor

•         Printed scandals and gossip for all to read

•         Elected to Legislative Assembly and continued fiery attacks on the government

•         Kicked out of the Assembly a number of times

Radical Reformers

•         Wanted change immediately – including through violence

•         Many were restless moderate reformers

•         William Lyon Mackenzie wanted a new and independent government if rebel demands not met

•         Hoped to empower Legislative Assembly

Upper Canada Rebellion

•         Soldiers sent to assist in Lower Canada’s rebellion, Mackenzie decided to strike York (Toronto)

•         Unable to convince widespread support, ordered attack at Montgomery’s Tavern

•         Rebellion short-lived and squashed by Sir Francis Bond Head due to lack of military experience, equipment, and planning

•         Mackenzie fled to the U.S.; many radicals fled here too

•         Arrested by Americans and jailed for 18 months

What happened to the Rebels?

•         Punishment

–        Quick and severe to deter others from rebellion

–        Leaders publicly hung

–        Flogging

–        Convict Ships

•         Transported to the Caribbean or Australia

•         Low-ceiling, cramped

•         Chained to the wall or deck

•         No bathroom facilities

•         Little ventilation

–        Used for slave labour on plantations and projects

Lord Durham

•         John Lambton, the Earl of Durham

•         Aristocrat and reformer politician

•         British appointed him Governor-in-Chief of the Canadas

•         Wanted him to investigate the situation and recommend solutions

•         Arrived in Spring 1838

•         Major Recommendations:

•         Upper Canada and Lower Canada should be united

•         Should grant the colonies responsible government

•         Elected, not appointed by the governor

•         Can be voted out if failed to please the majority

•         Assimilate or anglicize the French majority in Lower Canada

•         Consequences:

•         Act of Union 1840

•         United Upper and Lower Canada

•         Montreal the capital

•         French displeased

•         His goal was to assimilate French into English culture

•         Assimilate: absorb/integrate

•         French did not support or participate the union

•         Responsible government granted in 1848