Lower Canada Lesson Notes

•         In 1830s, a growing reform movement in Lower Canada was developing

•         People unhappy with the way colony governed

•         Exposed to democratic ideas of the French and American Revolutions

•         Elected assembly and two appointed councils at odds

•         Oligarchy: power in the hands of a small group of rich and influential men

•         At odds were the French and English cultures

Lower Canada Grievances

•         80% of citizens in Lower Canada were French-speaking

•         Only 80,000 English-speaking in a population of 420 000

•         Power in the hands of the councils and governor who were English-speaking

•         Power to veto Legislative Assembly (represented the ordinary people)

•         Angry with English governor who rejected an Assembly bill to preserve:

•         French language

•         Roman Catholic Religion

•         Agricultural traditions

•         Governor appointed members of the Councils

•         Most were English speaking merchants; part of the Chateau Clique

•         Used colony taxes to build roads, canals, and improve their businesses

•         Did not benefit the ordinary people who needed schools, roads, etc.

•         English-speaking population growth, threatened valuable land, traditions, and opportunities

•         French-Canadians felt that Britain were bringing more English-speaking immigrants to outnumber them

•         Government changed the seigneurial system into a freehold land system

•         Eastern Townships (lands set aside for immigrant settlement) given to English-speaking settlers

•         Ships with cholera-stricken Irish immigrants began landing in Lower Canada

•         Major issues:

•         French discrimination

•         Unequal taxation

•         Lack of power in the gov’t

Louis Joseph Papineau

•         Leader of the French-speaking Reformers (Parti patriotes)

•         Led attacks on English-speaking Chateau Clique

•         1834, drafted document called 92 Resolutions – long series of demands for political reforms

•         Threatened to hold back tax money used to pay government salaries, build bridges, roads and canals

•         Boycotted English goods

•         Government responded with “Ten Resolutions” denying the rights of the Assembly

•         Became clear that the government would not change – leads to violence

•         In the Fall of 1837, the Patriotes, led by Papineau, openly rebelled against the government

•         Wanted power and a voice within the government

•         Ended quickly – lasted about a month

•         Papineau flees to the U.S.

•         Resentment still lingers to this day and remains a factor in Quebec politics

Battle of Saint-Eustache

Why Lower Canada Rebellion Failed

•         Lack of planning and military leadership

•         Few arms for the Patriotes

•         Government restricted the sale of equipment and arms

•         Un-trained soldiers

•         Roman Catholic Church disapproved of armed rebellion

•         Many Patriotes refused to fight if the Church did not support them