Learning From Past Misrakes: Canada And The Durham Report Flashcards
(56 cards)
Quebec act
•1774
• after the 7 years war the British gained the province of quesbec from France
• French Canadians were allowed to remain Roman Catholic
• French civil law reinstated
• Quebec doubled in size.
Canada act 1791
• a compromise by the British PM, William Pitt the younger in order to manage and keep Canada calm and under control following American independence
• Canada divided into two
• upper Canada made up of British loyalists who had fled America
• lower Canada mostly French Canadians
The political system in Canada
• both colonies had governors appointed by the British government
• both governors were supported by an executive council and a legislative council appointed by British for life
• both had a seperate legislative assembely responsible for tax and domestic matters
• however, legislative council could veto anything the legislative assembly passed.
• land owners could vote for representatives in the legislative assembely.
Upper Canada politics (family compact)
• A group of powerful men, ‘the family compact’ held power though the executive council and were elected for life
• They controlled business, politics and the religious affairs of the colony.
• Almost all Anglican church members.
• Loyal to Britain
• legislative council comprised an upper house of seven, who were elected for life And controlled by executive council
• legislative assembely compromised of 16 men who were elected by landowning males. They had power to raise taxes.
Laws passed by legislative assembely had to be approved by legislative council and were often blocked.
Lower Canada politics
• practices french law and Roman Catholicism under the Quebec act 1774
• the powerful English speaking group were known as the chateau clique and dominated both the executive and legislative councils They controlled revenues, patronage and land grants
• French speaking population was larger in lower Canada and so they dominated the legislative assembly and worked to block actions by the chateau clique.
What was the constitutional act 1791
Made the political system how it is with the executive and legislative councils etc…
Landownership in upper Canada
Based on British freehold tenure
One seventh of all land was designed as clergy reserves.
Landownership in lower Canada
Land was granted to a seigneur who would grant land to tenants to substiance farm in exchange for rents
75-80% of rural population lived in seigneurial land.
Tensions in upper Canada
Lacked infrastructure, capital investment and has a very small population
Government was struggling for cash, and in order to get money they did controversial things like sidestepping assemblies.
Tensions in lower Canada
French speaking but assembly in English. They didn’t like this. Formed an impotent block.
1791 constitution act brought some policies in upper and lower, English dominated, French felt attacked
The threat of America
Britain hoped the Quebec act would stop revolt in lower Canada by helping them with religious freedom, they hoped any American like attempt would he unsuccessful.
Wanted to do things differently so repeated of the 13 colonies would not reoccur.
What changes did the new Whig government in 1830 bring to Britain
• 1832 great reform act
• 1833 abolition of slavery
• 1834 poor laws amendment act
• increased electorate from 366k to 650k - 18% male pop
• men who owned property worth at least £10 could vote.
• only men who could pay to stand for elections could be MPs
• abolished rotten boroughs and provided seats in the new industrialised cities
• introduced the first explicit bar to women voting, by defining a voter as a male person.
Robert Baldwin
Upper Canadian and moderate reformer
With his father, William, proposed responsible government.
Elected 1830 as a member of the legislative assembly but was defeated in the general election later that year
Bond head appointed him to the executive council
Baldwins condition for joining was a verbal commitment to responsible government
Bond head ignored this so Baldwin resigned.
William Mackenzie
Moved to upper Canada from Scotland in 1820. Became a leading voice for the new reform movement. Opposed the colonial regime and advocated for responsible government.
1828 elected to legislative assembly, protesting everything.
He faced liver suits, threats and physical assaults, as well as an attack on his printing office.
In 1830 he published a series of open letters to the governor, colborne, aimed at removing the accusations of disloyalty.
1830 Tory majority in the assembly, but Mackenzie continued to push for reforms, Mackenzie was expelled for liver in 1831. Nearly 1k of his constituents petitioned in his favour when this was ignored they carried him through the streets.
2nd Jan 1832 elected back in, expelled again on 5th Jan.
April 1832 he travelled to England to present a number of petitions to the king, where he was well received, and the governor was instructed to solve the problems.
Louis-Joseph papineau
Leading voice of the reformist patriots movement. Elected speaker of the legislative assembly in 1815.
In 1820, he refused a position on the legislative council offered by Dalhousie.
February 1834, introduced the 92 resolutions.
What did Britain do to combat existing tensions
• 1828 a delegation visited Britain from LC with petitions signed by 87k
• in UC, people also signed petitions for change.
Solution: creation of the Canada committee parliamentary select comittee, investigated the concerns and reported back to Britain.
• Britain offered no solutions, no amendments suggested to 1791 constitution act
• recognised all the problems but didn’t suggest any changes.
92 resolutions
February 1834, Papineau introduced 92 resolutions which affirmed the assembly’ members’ loyalty to the crown, but listen a series of political demands, including:
• condemnation of the legislation council
• the legislative council should listen to the people. Should he elected or a more direct method for people to express their opinions
• comparison to the form of government in the US
• the inhabitants won’t renounce their French heritage
• complaints that the British got the best officers despite their minority
Submitted to the commons in London. British responded that they had tried to carry out previous suggestions and any future measures would be best in the hands of the British government.
Papineau and followers angry.
Key tensions so far (early in course)
Lack of representation
economic problems
British response
Religious and cultural difference
Lieutenant governors in upper canada
Colborne - increased population by 70% through migration. Improved infrastructure and led the British armed forces against the rebellions in 1836
Bond head - appointed Baldwin to exec council
George Arthur - moved to UC. Governed during UC rebellion and oversaw unity of 2 provinces
Lower Canada lieutenant governors
Alymer- overall governor of all Canada
Gosford- oversaw gosford commission
UC Short term tensions - radical reformers
Led by Baldwin and who’s father who came up with idea of responsible government
During revolts Baldwin was in London protesting removal from exec council by lieutenant governor.
UC Short term tensions - emigration
Irish emigration to UC meant that virtually whole of UC east of Toronto had become notably Irish in character
American aliens were treated with suspicion and in 1830’s the longer standing residents began to treat Irish the same way
Poor immigrants assisted by ops township scheme
UC Short term tensions -lieutenant governors
Colborne and bond head shared similar vies of constitutions that they were there to govern and exec council there to be consulted
Colborne more successful than bond head shared
UC Short term tensions - 1836 election
Victory for bond head as deliver pro government majority after person majority campaign
Legislative assembly to share their position and control reformers
