1815-1855 The Peoples Voice is Heard

1. 1815-1855 The Peoples Voice is Heard By 8-27 group 2

2. Geography of Upper and Lower Canada • Borders what is now News Brunswick, northeast area of United States, and Great lakes • Upper Canada-southern Ontario • Lower Canada-Quebec and Newfoundland • Upper and lower Canada both British Colonies • Lower Canada mainly French speaking Canadiens • Upper Canada mainly English speaking people

3. The three groups/ life in lower Canada • Habitant (French-speaker) work in life threaten narrow farms by reducing available farmland causing young people to move from Canada to the U.S, they are extreme poverty cause starvation • Merchant (English- speaker) rich and powerful by exporting fur and timber • Professionals are educated French speaker (doctor) and dream of separating French canadian Nation

4. Louis-Joseph Papineau • Wealthy seigneur by having strong supporter of French • He favored doing things old way • Served as officer in militia by defending British north America from Americans during war of 1812 • Been elected speaker to legislative assembly of lower Canada in 1809 • As speaker he become leader of party Canadian • After 1825 party Canadian was called parti canadien.

5. Government in Lower Canada • Governor British appointed • Legislative council English-speaking merchants and seigneurs • Executive council friends of Governor • Can’t be voted out • Legislative assembly voted by citizens • Two Groups, Chateau Clique, Parti Canadien(Parti Patriote) • Chateau Clique, British who are wealthy or French sided with British • Parti Canadien, want French way

6. Unrest in lower Canada • British merchants want taxes for canals, harbors and roads, wouldn't help French • Immigration eliminate French culture and language • 1832, immigrant ship brought disease cholera, killed 5500 • Legislative assembly(French-speaking) hard to make laws • 1836 crops failed, Canadians face starvation • 1837 economic depression, English merchants blamed

7. The Armed Rebellion In Lower Canada • Began on November 23,1837 at St. Denis. At that battle they won their first victory • The Rebels, group that rebelled British enforcements and fought back • Following that battle they built a fortress at St. Charles to fight the British but lost • Leader fled to U.S • After all the fighting 12 were hung 58 were sent to Australia and 12 hundred were set free.

8. Life in upper Canada • Pioneer homestead start from scratch and forced native inland • Most habitant were subsistence farmers meaning they only farm for their family • Life in towns was easier • Town were hubs • Town supplied a people with basic service • Transportation mostly walking

9. Government of upper Canada • Lieutenant(British appointed) highest ranking • Legislative and Executive 2nd highest • Executive and Legislative dominated government business and social life • Legislative assembly (Elected by voters) 3rd highest • Had little power law has to be approved by council and Lieutenant

10. Family Compact • Small group of powerful people in upper Canada • As well as friends and supporters known as Tories • Didn’t want US government to be part of Canadian government • Defended tradition • Believed power should be in the hands of few capable people (themselves) • Believed Church of England should have power • Loyal to Great Britain

11. Who are the reformers,and what did they oppose? • Opposed the power of family compact • Wanted changes in government and society of upper Canada • Divided into moderate and radical groups. • Robert Gourlay - plan to bring people from Britain to farm in upper Canada • William Lyon Mackenzie - 1824, established “the colonial advocate” a newspaper that spoke out on land problems, power of family compact and question to who was a upper Canadian • Sir Francis Bond Head - Appointed Lieutenant - governor of Upper Canada in 1835, was Reformer for short period but rejected

12. Armed Rebellion of Upper Canada • William Lyon Mackenzie turned people against government in Northern Toronto • Radicals wanted upper Canada like the American government • December 5 Mackenzie led 800 men down Yonge street in Toronto • In the United States Sir Francis bond head tried to raise an army to liberate upper Canada giving 120 hectares of land for whoever would join him • Caught for breaking legal neutrality between Canada and the US jail 11 months

13. Aftermath of the rebellion • Lower Canada became even worse than before the rebellion • Upper Canada afraid to speak out because moderate reformers were branded as rebels • Prime minister decided to send Lord Durham as governor general

14. Lord Durham And his Report • John George Lambton (Lord Durham) sent to Quebec City as governor general. • Suggested solutions for rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada. • Wrote “report on Affairs of British Canada” also known as Durham report • Named “Radical Jack” in British House of Commons because of radical policies. • Upper and Lower Canada unite and become one colony, called United Province of Canada - would unite English speaking people, would give them majority in gov’t • New colony should have responsible government - Local powers handled by colony: Imperial powers written, Governor advised by Executive Council only.

15. The Act of Union, 1841 • Aim: create single government, establish English as official language • Was first step toward Confederation • Canada was split as Canada West (Upper Canada) and Canada East (Lower Canada, Ontario) • In 1847, Lord Elgin became governor • Executive Council/Cabinet got most power and are responsible to Legislative Assembly • Many members formed political parties to achieve power. • Nova Scotia:1847, New Brunswick: 1854, Newfoundland:1855, Prince Edward Island: 1851. Received responsible gov’t in these years.

16. Bibliography • Unknown author.The Canadas. Retrieved May 30, 2007 from the internet:http://www.answers.com/topic/the-canadas • Canada Revisited textbook-pages 130-174